Enter any address in Hillsborough County, Florida to see its FEMA flood zone
Hillsborough County experiences a variety of flood events, with heavy rainfall from thunderstorms and tropical systems being the most frequent. For example, in July 2025, intense rainfall near Plant City resulted in flash flooding. More broadly, the county has seen 74 flood events, 19 tropical storm events, and 11 flash flood events in the last 30 years.
Coastal flooding and storm surge are also significant risks, particularly during hurricane events. In October 2024, Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm, impacting the region. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows a high number of claims in Zone A, with an average payout of $70,122 and an average water depth of 3.8 feet. Properties in Zone A and Zone V should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
51 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Hillsborough County, Florida has recorded 118 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 11 flash floods and 74 river or area floods. The county has received 47 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1968–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Milton | Hurricane | Oct 5, 2024 |
| Hurricane Helene | Hurricane | Sep 23, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 23, 2024 |
| Hurricane Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Hurricane Idalia | Hurricane | Aug 27, 2023 |
| Tropical Storm Idalia | Tropical Storm | Aug 27, 2023 |
| Hurricane Nicole | Hurricane | Nov 7, 2022 |
| Tropical Storm Nicole | Tropical Storm | Nov 7, 2022 |
| Hurricane Ian | Hurricane | Sep 23, 2022 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 11, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 12, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Hurricane (Typhoon) | Oct 9, 2024 | — |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Oct 9, 2024 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2024 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 30, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Dec 17, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 28, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 28, 2022 | 59.00M (3 deaths) |
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2025
Northerly flow overspreading the peninsula west of a tropical disturbance (Invest 93L) approaching the state from the Atlantic results in south to southwest propagating convection that produces damaging wind gusts near Manor Ridge and Darby in Hernando and Pasco counties, along with 1-in-1000-year 3-hour, and 1-in-500- to -1000-year 6-hour rainfall events near Plant City in Hillsborough County ...
Flood — Jun 11, 2025
Robust late afternoon and evening easterly flow sea breeze convection produces severe hail near Fort Myers Shores in Lee County and street flooding near Tampa in Hillsborough County.
Flood — Jul 12, 2024
Interaction between the afternoon sea breeze and a weak surface trough over the area produce thunderstorms resulting in around 2 inches of rain causing flooding near Tampa in Hillsborough County.
Hurricane (Typhoon) — Oct 9, 2024
Hurricane Milton made landfall along the west-central Florida coast near Siesta Key at 7:30 PM EST on October 9th as a major, Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. 2 days prior to landfall on October 7th, Milton reached its peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph and a minimum pressure of 897 mb, m...
Storm Surge/Tide — Oct 9, 2024
Hurricane Milton made landfall along the west-central Florida coast near Siesta Key at 7:30 PM EST on October 9th as a major, Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. 2 days prior to landfall on October 7th, Milton reached its peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph and a minimum pressure of 897 mb, m...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Hillsborough County, Florida:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Hillsborough County, Florida that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.