Enter any address in Santa Rosa County, Florida to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event recorded in Santa Rosa County, FL over the past 30 years, with 68 occurrences. Recent examples include widespread flash flooding in June 2023 due to heavy rainfall and another event in April 2021 associated with severe storms.
While flash flooding is common, other flood types have also impacted the county, including tropical storms, storm surge, and coastal flooding. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $51,767 and an average water depth of 3.6 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED have the highest average payout at $63,364, with an average water depth of 3.8 feet.
Homeowners in flood zones, particularly those in Zone A, Zone X_SHADED, and Zone V, should be aware of their flood risk. Coastal properties and those located near waterways may experience higher water depths and payouts.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Santa Rosa County, Florida has recorded 76 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 68 flash floods and 1 river or area floods. The county has received 43 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1970–2024)
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 Ian | Hurricane | Sep 23, 2022 |
| Tropical Storm Ian | Hurricane | Sep 23, 2022 |
| Tropical Storm Fred | Hurricane | Aug 13, 2021 |
| Hurricane Sally | Hurricane | Sep 14, 2020 |
| 5 Mile Swamp Fire | Fire | May 6, 2020 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 10, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 16, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 16, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 9, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Jun 19, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 10, 2025
Heavy rain caused flooding across the western Florida panhandle.
Flash Flood — Jun 9, 2025
Heavy rain caused flooding in portions of the western Florida panhandle.
Flash Flood — Sep 16, 2024
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain across the portions of the Florida panhandle leading to flooding.
Flash Flood — Jun 16, 2023
A large cluster of thunderstorms stalled near the coast in the Florida panhandle and produced very heavy rain with 6 to 12 inches of rain recorded. This caused widespread flash flooding around Pensacola. The thunderstorms also produced wind damage.
Flash Flood — Jun 30, 2022
Heavy rain caused flooding in the western Florida panhandle.
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 Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa 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.