Enter any address in Jefferson County, Florida to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the most frequent type of flooding in Jefferson County, FL, with 14 such events recorded in the last 30 years. Tropical storms have also contributed significantly, with 30 events and one reported fatality. For example, a major flash flood event occurred in April 2024, bringing 6 to 10 inches of rain to the region, resulting in flooded structures and millions of dollars in damage. Another event in March 2025 involved isolated flash flooding alongside hail and wind damage.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $4,826 and an average water depth of 0.3 feet. Properties in Zone UNKNOWN also saw a claim with a higher average payout of $11,696 and 1.0 foot of water depth. Homeowners in Zone A and those in areas with unknown flood risk designations should pay particular attention to flood preparedness.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
44 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Jefferson County, Florida has recorded 59 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 14 flash floods and 3 river or area floods. The county has received 39 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 10, 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 | Mar 9, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Hurricane (Typhoon) | Sep 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Hurricane (Typhoon) | Sep 26, 2024 | 10.00M |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Sep 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 5, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Aug 30, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 30, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 30, 2023 | 5.00M |
Flash Flood — Mar 9, 2025
A slow moving frontal boundary brought multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms to the area. Isolated flash flooding occurred along with hail and isolated wind damage.
Hurricane (Typhoon) — Sep 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and a minimum central pressure of 938 mb (27.70 inches) at about 11:10 PM EDT on Thursday, September 26th, in Taylor County Florida just east of the Aucilla River. Helene quickly moved inland across Taylor and Madison Counties before moving into Lowndes County in South Central Georgia. The hurricane...
Storm Surge/Tide — Sep 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and a minimum central pressure of 938 mb (27.70 inches) at about 11:10 PM EDT on Thursday, September 26th, in Taylor County Florida just east of the Aucilla River. Helene quickly moved inland across Taylor and Madison Counties before moving into Lowndes County in South Central Georgia. The hurricane...
Flash Flood — Apr 11, 2024
A major flash flood event occurred across portions of the Florida big bend and southern Georgia during the late night hours of April 10th through the early morning hours of April 11th. Between 6 and 10 inches of rain fell with localized higher amounts, particularly over Tallahassee. This resulted in rapid water rises across Tallahassee with numerous cars and structures flooded. Several milli...
Tropical Storm — Oct 9, 2024
Major Hurricane Milton moved across the Florida peninsula and brought fringe impacts across portions of the coastal big bend with winds to tropical storm force. Rainfall amounts were less than three inches, and surge was negligible.
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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.