Enter any address in Monroe County, Florida to see its FEMA flood zone
Tropical storms and hurricanes are the dominant flood-related events in Monroe County, FL. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 55 tropical storm events and 36 hurricane events, resulting in 13 deaths. Recent events include Tropical Storm Debby in August 2024, which brought tropical storm-force wind gusts and sustained winds to the coastal waters of the Lower Florida Keys. Storm surge and tide events also contributed to flooding, with one death recorded over the same period.
FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that Zone A areas have experienced the highest number of claims, with nearly 20,000 claims averaging over $26,000 and a water depth of 3.5 feet. Zone V areas, typically coastal, have seen over 2,500 claims with an average payout of over $21,000. Properties in Zone A and Zone V, as well as those in Zone D and areas without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
78 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Monroe County, Florida has recorded 169 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database. The county has received 47 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 (1965–2024)
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 Ian | Hurricane | Sep 23, 2022 |
| Tropical Storm Ian | Hurricane | Sep 23, 2022 |
| Tropical Storm Elsa | Severe Storm | Jul 4, 2021 |
| Hurricane Isaias | Hurricane | Jul 31, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Dec 29, 2024 | 1.50K |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Sep 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 26, 2024 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 | — |
| Flood | May 20, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Aug 20, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Oct 10, 2024 | — |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Oct 9, 2024 | — |
Flood — Dec 29, 2024
A mesoscale low pressure system developed and moved slowly east near and over the middle Florida Keys, accompanied by widespread and persistent showers and thunderstorms. Rainfall totals of 3 to 5 inches were measured by residential weather stations between Marathon and Windley Key.
Storm Surge/Tide — Sep 26, 2024
The center of Hurricane Helene passed about 200 miles west of Naples as a Category 3 hurricane moving N-NE over the eastern Gulf of Mexico around midday on Thursday, September 26th, then made landfall later that evening in the Florida Big Bend as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and lowest central pressure of 938 mb. The large wind field around Helene brought tropi...
Tropical Storm — Sep 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene moved north northeast across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, strengthening to category 2 strength before passing at closest approach 235 statue miles to the west-northwest of Key West on the morning of September 27, 2024. Widespread lower-end tropical storm force winds overspread the Florida Keys and its adjacent coastal waters producing isolated large tree limb and utility line da...
Storm Surge/Tide — Sep 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene moved north northeast across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, strengthening to category 2 strength before passing at closest approach 235 statue miles to the west-northwest of Key West on the morning of September 27, 2024. Widespread lower-end tropical storm force winds overspread the Florida Keys and its adjacent coastal waters producing isolated large tree limb and utility line da...
Tropical Storm — Sep 25, 2024
Hurricane Helene moved north northeast across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, strengthening to category 2 strength before passing at closest approach 235 statue miles to the west-northwest of Key West on the morning of September 27, 2024. Widespread lower-end tropical storm force winds overspread the Florida Keys and its adjacent coastal waters producing isolated large tree limb and utility line da...
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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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.