Escambia County, Florida
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 12033 · population 321,367 · 657 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 745 records for Escambia County, Florida from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 500 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (295 records). NOAA records 84 flood or flash floods there since 1996, with 1 death; its 16,499 flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA) rank 26th of 2,942 U.S. counties; the deadliest named storm on its flood record is Hurricane Frances (2004). The deadliest single record is the September 13, 2004 hurricane, filed for the forecast zone Coastal Escambia, which covers the county: 6 deaths and $6.3 billion in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 40 declarations naming the county since 1970, 38 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Helene” on September 28, 2024.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 745on 500 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 63269 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $9.1Bas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 99strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 40latest 2024
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Escambia County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 295 since 1957. The rank column places the county among Florida's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 295 | 216 | 1957-2026 | 1 | 7 | $3.6M | 11 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 99 | 85 | 1953-2025 | 0 | 191 | $71M | 4 of 67 |
| Floods | 84 | 59 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $191M | 7 of 67 |
| Hail | 80 | 58 | 1971-2026 | 0 | 0 | $45K | 23 of 67 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 55 | 49 | 1996-2024 | 45 | 47 | $67K | 5 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 44 | 25 | 1998-2021 | 10 | 0 | $8.8B | 26 of 67 |
| Lightning | 42 | 41 | 1996-2025 | 6 | 24 | $611K | 9 of 67 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 17 | 17 | 1996-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 8 | 5 | 2014-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 67 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 4 | 2005-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 48 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 4 | 2001-2024 | 0 | 0 | $58K | 22 of 67 |
| Drought | 4 | 2 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 40 of 67 |
| Heat | 4 | 2 | 2000-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 52 of 67 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | $34K | 47 of 67 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Escambia County had?
NOAA records 99 tornadoes in Escambia County from 1953 to 2025, the strongest rated EF3, with 0 deaths and 191 injuries recorded in the county. That is 4th of 67 Florida counties and 10th of 3,080 U.S. counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 103 tornadoes whose track touched Escambia County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 99: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Escambia County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973-05-26 12:00, as SPC files it | Crestview | F2 | 105.4 mi | 1 |
| 2016-02-23 20:10, as SPC files it | Pensacola | EF3 | 2.99 mi | 0 |
| 2016-02-15 15:32, as SPC files it | CenturyCrossed AL, FL | EF3 | 16.45 mi | 0 |
| 1971-02-07 03:18, as SPC files it | Gulf Breeze | F3 | 1 mi | 0 |
| 1967-10-30 16:55, as SPC files it | Pensacola | F3 | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| 1956-05-05 08:30, as SPC files it | Pensacola | F3 | 1 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Florida.
Every tornado record filed for Escambia County (99)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-17 | Cantonment, Escambia County | EF0 0.14 mi x 5 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-10 | Pensacola Beach, Escambia County | EF1 0.37 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-10 | Nas Pensacola, Escambia County | EF1 0.61 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-11 | Riverview, Escambia County | EF1 0.49 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-04-10 | Belleview, Escambia County | EF1 2.26 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-06-15 | West Pensacola, Escambia County | EF2 8.58 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-05-25 | Ferry Pass, Escambia County | EF1 0.43 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-03-30 | Gonzalez, Escambia County | EF0 0.32 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-04-22 | Barrineau Park, Escambia County | EF0 0.13 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $59K |
| 2016-02-23 | Ferry Pass, Escambia County | EF3 2.99 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 3 | $27M |
| 2016-02-15 | Mc David, Escambia County | EF3 12.57 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 3 | $6.1M |
| 2013-07-22 | Pensacola Beach, Escambia County | EF0 0.01 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2012-05-12 | Pensacola, Escambia County | EF0 0.01 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2011-09-04 | Gulf Beach, Escambia County | EF1 2.4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $328K |
| 2011-03-09 | Mc David, Escambia County | EF0 0.54 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-09-01 | Nas Pensacola, Escambia County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-09-01 | Nas Pensacola, Escambia County | EF0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2008-02-17 | Molino Xrds, Escambia County | EF1 5.08 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2007-10-18 | Warrington, Escambia County | EF1 5.62 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 4 | $1.4M |
| 2005-08-29 | Century, Escambia County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2005-07-06 | Bratt, Escambia County | F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2005-07-06 | Cantonment, Escambia County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $30K |
| 2004-11-27 | Pine Forrest, Escambia County | F1 3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $78K |
| 2004-09-15 | Pensacola Beach, Escambia County | F0 7 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2004-09-15 | Gulf Beach, Escambia County | F0 2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2002-11-05 | Bratt, Escambia County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-06-24 | Pensacola Regio, Escambia County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-10-13 | Pensacola, Escambia County | F0 2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $417K |
| 2000-04-24 | Gonzalez, Escambia County | F1 0.8 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $686K |
| 1999-02-23 | Pensacola Regional, Escambia County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-10-04 | Molino, Escambia County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 1995-08-03 | Pensacola Beach, Escambia County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $39K |
| 1992-08-19 | Escambia County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1991-07-21 | Escambia County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-06-22 | Escambia County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-06-08 | Escambia County | F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1989-06-08 | Escambia County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1988-07-26 | Escambia County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1985-10-28 | Escambia County | F0 2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1985-02-11 | Escambia County | F1 0.6 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1983-11-20 | Escambia County | F1 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1983-02-01 | Escambia County | F1 5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1982-07-04 | Escambia County | F0 0.3 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1982-06-27 | Escambia County | F0 0.2 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1980-06-18 | Escambia County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1980-05-16 | Escambia County | F0 0.5 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1980-03-28 | Escambia County | F1 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1979-11-25 | Escambia County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1979-09-12 | Escambia County | F1 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 4 | $250K step |
| 1979-09-12 | Escambia County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1979-08-23 | Escambia County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1979-03-03 | Escambia County | F1 1.9 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1979-03-03 | Escambia County | F1 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1978-07-21 | Escambia County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1977-10-25 | Escambia County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1976-06-03 | Escambia County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1976-06-01 | Escambia County | F1 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1976-01-07 | Escambia County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1975-12-25 | Escambia County | F0 11.8 mi x 27 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1975-11-09 | Escambia County | F1 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Escambia County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 30, 2025 lightning ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | HailBrent, Escambia County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindBrent, Escambia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-25 | Thunderstorm WindEast Pensacola Hgts, Escambia County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-09 | HailMolino, Escambia County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-26 | HailPensacola Coastal Ar, Escambia County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-30 | LightningBluff Spgs, Escambia County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2025-06-17 | TornadoCantonment, Escambia County | EF0 0.14 mi x 5 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-10 | TornadoPensacola Beach, Escambia County | EF1 0.37 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-10 | TornadoNas Pensacola, Escambia County | EF1 0.61 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-10 | Thunderstorm WindPleasant Grove, Escambia County | 67 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-03 | HailMolino, Escambia County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-03 | HailMolino, Escambia County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-09-13 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Escambia County · forecast zone Coastal Escambia See the narrative on Hurricane Ivan under Alabama, Southwest, September 13-16 ,2004. Ivan will be remembered as one of the most damaging hurricanes to affect the extreme western Florida panhandle in modern history. The $4 billion in property damage is an estimate, but the final figure could be as low as $2.5 billion ... | 6 | 0 | $6.3B | |
| 2001-06-06 | Rip CurrentPensacola Beach, Escambia County A 59 year old male from Tennessee and his daughters father in-law, a 60 year old male from Great Britain, both drowned while swimming in rough waters near the Santa Rosa and Escambia county lines. The male from England was swimming in the rough surf when he encountered a strong rip current. The male from Tennessee ... | 2 | 2 | – | |
| 2020-09-15 | Storm Surge/TideEscambia County · forecast zone Escambia Coastal Hurricane Sally made landfall in Gulf Shores, AL at 5am on Wednesday, September 16th as a strong Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Sally produced widespread wind, storm surge, and freshwater flooding across coastal AL and the western Florida Panhandle. Flood and wind damage also extended ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2001-09-08 | LightningPensacola Beach, Escambia County Two women were killed by lightning near Pensacola Beach at the Fort Pickens State Park. The women were walking side by side on the beach as a thunderstorm moved ashore from the Gulf of Mexico. The storm had not previously been producing much lightning activity, and the women were casually walking to shelter when the ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2000-06-04 | Rip CurrentPensacola Beach, Escambia County Three people from Mobile (two males and a female) went to the beach to celebrate the females birthday. They were swimming in rough surf off of Pensacola Beach. The female got in a strong current and the two males tried to rescue her. Both of the males drowned in the rough surf and the female was rescued by other ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2002-11-10 | Rip CurrentPensacola Beach, Escambia County Several people swimming in rough water at Pensacola Beach were caught in a strong rip current. A male visitor from Nebraska jumped into the water to try and rescue the swimmers. He ended up drowning in the rough surf and six other people had to be rescued and were taken to the hospital and later released.. | 1 | 6 | – | |
| 2018-06-19 | Rip CurrentEscambia County · forecast zone Escambia Coastal Six people were caught in a rip current off of Pensacola Beach, FL around 330pm. A 56 year old man from Texas died and five others were taken to local hospitals. | 1 | 5 | – | |
| 1996-08-06 | LightningPerdido Key, Escambia County Three people working at a construction site at Perdido Key were struck by lightning. One of the persons died. The three were huddled underneath a makeshift lean-to. One of the men had a rake in his hand when the bolt hit. Lightning either struck their shelter, the deceased or the rake he was holding. The storms that ... | 1 | 2 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-09-13 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Escambia County · forecast zone Coastal Escambia | 6 | 0 | $6.3B | |
| 2005-07-09 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Escambia County · forecast zone Coastal Escambia | 0 | 0 | $2.3B | |
| 2014-04-29 | Flash FloodGulf Beach, Escambia County | 1 | 0 | $187M | |
| 2005-08-27 | Tropical StormEscambia County · forecast zone Coastal Escambia | 0 | 0 | $151M | |
| 1998-09-25 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Escambia County · forecast zone Coastal Escambia | 0 | 0 | $45M | |
| 2020-09-15 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Escambia County · forecast zone Escambia Coastal | 0 | 0 | $34M | |
| 2016-02-23 | TornadoFerry Pass, Escambia County | EF3 2.99 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 3 | $27M |
| 2002-09-24 | Tropical StormEscambia County · forecast zone Coastal Escambia | 0 | 0 | $9.5M |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: February 7, 1971 (tornado, Escambia County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Escambia County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 9 | 17 | 44 | 70 | 56 | 51 | 46 |
| Tornadoes | 6 | 10 | 36 | 13 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 8 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 24 | 30 | 22 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 19 | 22 | 12 | 14 |
| Rip currents and high surf | – | – | – | – | 2 | 34 | 8 | 11 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 27 | 6 | 7 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Escambia County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 52 · Feb 35 · Mar 75 · Apr 79 · May 71 · Jun 96 · Jul 82 · Aug 87 · Sep 62 · Oct 37 · Nov 33 · Dec 36 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Escambia County
FEMA's register lists 40 declarations that include Escambia County: 24 major disasters, 15 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for hurricane (24) and severe storm (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-28 | DR-4828 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-09-24 | EM-3615 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2024-08-10 | DR-4806 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| 2024-08-03 | EM-3605 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2022-09-29 | DR-4673 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| 2022-09-24 | EM-3584 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Ian |
| 2021-08-16 | EM-3562 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Fred |
| 2020-09-23 | DR-4564 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 2020-09-15 | EM-3546 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 2020-03-25 | DR-4486 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3432 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-08-30 | EM-3419 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| 2018-10-09 | EM-3405 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2017-10-08 | EM-3395 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| 2017-09-10 | DR-4337 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-05 | EM-3385 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2014-05-06 | DR-4177 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2012-10-18 | DR-4084 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaac |
| 2009-04-21 | DR-1831 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2008-10-27 | DR-1806 | Hurricane | Hurricane Gustav |
| 2008-08-21 | EM-3288 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Fay |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3220 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-08-28 | DR-1602 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2005-07-10 | DR-1595 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dennis |
| 2004-09-16 | DR-1551 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 2004-09-04 | DR-1545 | Hurricane | Hurricane Frances |
| 2004-08-13 | DR-1539 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley |
| 2001-05-16 | FM-2361 | Fire | Fl - Escambia Fire Complex - 05/16/01 |
| 2000-10-03 | DR-1344 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 1998-09-28 | DR-1249 | Hurricane | Hurricane Georges |
| 1998-09-25 | EM-3131 | Hurricane | Hurricane Grorges |
| 1998-06-18 | DR-1223 | Fire | Extreme Fire Hazard |
| 1998-01-06 | DR-1195 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1995-10-04 | DR-1069 | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal |
| 1995-08-10 | DR-1062 | Hurricane | Hurricane Erin |
| 1994-07-08 | EM-3114 | Flood | Tropical Storm Alberto |
| 1990-04-03 | DR-862 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1979-09-13 | DR-600 | Hurricane | Hurricane Frederic |
| 1979-03-24 | EM-3075 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1970-07-03 | DR-289 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Escambia County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 84 flood or flash flood records for Escambia County from 1996 to 2025, on 59 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Escambia County ranks 26th of 2,942 U.S. counties. The 100 counties with the most claims
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Frances | 2004-09-13 | 1 | 6 |
| Hurricane Sally | 2020-09-15 | 2 | 2 |
| Hurricane Isaac | 2012-08-28 | 1 | 1 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | 2000-09-20 | 1 | 1 |
| Tropical Storm Fay | 2008-09-11 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Gustav | 2008-09-01 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Katrina | 2005-08-27 | 2 | 0 |
| Hurricane Dennis | 2005-07-09 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Grorges | 1998-09-25 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $732 million on 16,499 claims filed in Escambia County; the most in one year was 4,992 in 2004. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 25 · 1979: 1,015 · 1980: 14 · 1981: 6 · 1982: 6 · 1983: 19 · 1984: 8 · 1985: 182 · 1986: 10 · 1987: 38 · 1988: 1 · 1989: 11 · 1990: 9 · 1991: 9 · 1992: 8 · 1993: 5 · 1994: 10 · 1995: 2,571 · 1996: 10 · 1997: 11 · 1998: 1,576 · 1999: 4 · 2000: 9 · 2001: 12 · 2002: 149 · 2003: 11 · 2004: 4,992 · 2005: 960 · 2006: 6 · 2007: 33 · 2008: 25 · 2009: 23 · 2010: 7 · 2011: 7 · 2012: 385 · 2013: 10 · 2014: 1,566 · 2015: 12 · 2016: 10 · 2017: 39 · 2018: 24 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 2,495 · 2021: 28 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 115 · 2024: 16 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 3.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Escambia County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Escambia County Relatively High overall, with an expected annual loss of $174 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Very High | $4.3M | 85 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very High | $121M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $4.8M | 8.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $33M | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $4.0M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $1.8M | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $2.6M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $94K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Escambia County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in FloridaEvery Florida tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in FloridaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Florida recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Escambia CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Escambia County's FEMA declarations (CSV)40 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis