Isabela Municipio, Puerto Rico
Municipio storm and disaster record · FIPS 72071 · population 42,892 · 55 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 139 records for Isabela Municipio, Puerto Rico from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 124 days; the most frequent are floods and flash floods (43 records). 115 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the March 27, 2024 rip current, filed for the forecast zone Northwest, which covers the county: 1 death and 3 injuries. FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 1975, 16 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Tropical Storm Ernesto” on August 13, 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
- 139on 124 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 2814 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $8.8Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 18latest 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 Isabela Municipio most?
The most frequent records are floods and flash floods: 43 since 2002. Census land area gives no figure for Isabela Municipio under this code, so it carries no per-area rank.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | 43 | 33 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 0 | $7.2M | – |
| Rip currents and high surf | 34 | 34 | 2006-2025 | 28 | 11 | $1.1M | – |
| Heat | 31 | 31 | 2023-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Landslides and avalanches | 8 | 8 | 2003-2026 | 0 | 0 | $9K | – |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 6 | 5 | 2000-2024 | 0 | 0 | $70K | – |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 3 | 2001-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Drought | 3 | 3 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| High wind and dust storms | 3 | 3 | 2005-2018 | 0 | 0 | $10K | – |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 3 | 3 | 2015-2025 | 0 | 0 | $7K | – |
| Wildfires | 2 | 2 | 2011-2023 | 0 | 0 | $504K | – |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2015-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2024-2024 | 0 | 3 | – | – |
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.
When was the last damaging storm in Isabela Municipio?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 27, 2026 debris flow ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-27 | Debris FlowIsabela Municipio | 0 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2026-02-02 | Coastal FloodAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest | 0 | 0 | $15K | |
| 2025-10-31 | Thunderstorm WindIsabela Municipio | 26 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2025-10-03 | Coastal FloodAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest | 0 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2025-10-03 | Coastal FloodAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-03 | Coastal FloodAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest | 0 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2025-09-06 | Thunderstorm WindIsabela Municipio | 30 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-08-17 | High SurfAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-17 | Rip CurrentAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-11 | Coastal FloodAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest | 0 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2024-09-25 | Rip CurrentAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-08-11 | Rip CurrentAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest | 1 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-03-27 | Rip CurrentAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest A 40-year-old male tourist and his two daughters were swept away by rip currents at Montones Beach in Isabela. The man managed to rescue the girls but was also dragged and unable to get out of the water. Paramedics from State Medical Emergencies provided first aid and confirmed that the individual no longer had vital ... | 1 | 3 | – | |
| 2023-01-18 | Rip CurrentAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest A man drowned on Jobos Beach in Isabela around 3:30 pm after being swept away by rip currents. Another man who was injured in the incident was transported to a hospital. | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2021-10-09 | Rip CurrentAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest A 51 year old male was swept away by a rip current, along with his daughter and son in-law in Golondrinas Beach in Isabela. The 51 year old male drowned and the other two were rescued. | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2024-05-19 | Rip CurrentAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest A tourist drowned at Shacks Beach in Isabela after being swept away by rip currents while snorkeling. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2024-05-14 | Rip CurrentAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest A tourist drowned on Jobos Beach. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2024-02-13 | Rip CurrentAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest A man was found floating on the waters near Playa Montones in Isabela. The individual was found dead. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2009-12-27 | High SurfAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest One person drowned in rough surf while trying to rescue his 11 year old son from the rough surf. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2025-07-17 | Rip CurrentAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest Broadcast media reported that a man drowned after being swept away by rip currents in Playa Jobos (Jobos Beach) in Isabela. | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-03-19 | High SurfAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 2023-03-31 | WildfireAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest | 0 | 0 | $504K | |
| 2026-02-02 | Coastal FloodAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest | 0 | 0 | $15K | |
| 2025-10-31 | Thunderstorm WindIsabela Municipio | 26 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2025-09-06 | Thunderstorm WindIsabela Municipio | 30 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-10-03 | Coastal FloodAguadilla Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Northwest | 0 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2026-04-27 | Debris FlowIsabela Municipio | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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 Isabela Municipio'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 0 | 18 | 15 | 10 |
| Rip currents and high surf | – | – | – | – | 0 | 3 | 13 | 18 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
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 Isabela Municipio. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 10 · Feb 5 · Mar 14 · Apr 6 · May 20 · Jun 14 · Jul 12 · Aug 9 · Sep 19 · Oct 17 · Nov 10 · Dec 3 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Isabela Municipio
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Isabela Municipio: 8 major disasters, 10 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (10) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-13 | EM-3610 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Ernesto |
| 2022-09-21 | DR-4671 | Hurricane | Hurricane Fiona |
| 2022-09-18 | EM-3583 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Fiona |
| 2020-08-22 | EM-3537 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Laura |
| 2020-07-29 | EM-3532 | Hurricane | Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine |
| 2020-03-27 | DR-4493 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3452 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2020-01-07 | EM-3426 | Earthquake | Earthquakes |
| 2019-08-27 | EM-3417 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Dorian |
| 2017-09-20 | DR-4339 | Hurricane | Hurricane Maria |
| 2017-09-18 | EM-3391 | Hurricane | Hurricane Maria |
| 2011-08-22 | EM-3326 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2004-09-17 | DR-1552 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Jeanne and Resulting Landslides and Mudslides |
| 1999-11-17 | EM-3151 | Hurricane | Hurricane Lenny |
| 1998-09-24 | DR-1247 | Hurricane | Hurricane Georges - 18 Sep 98 |
| 1996-09-11 | DR-1136 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hortense |
| 1986-07-10 | DR-768 | Flood | Heavy Rains, Flooding & Mudslides |
| 1975-09-19 | DR-483 | Flood | Tropical Storm Elioise |
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.
Counties that share a border with Isabela Municipio
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Floods in Puerto RicoThe state's floods and flash floods, by county, year and month
- The Puerto Rico recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Isabela MunicipioThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Isabela Municipio's FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis