Patillas Municipio, Puerto Rico
Municipio storm and disaster record · FIPS 72109 · population 15,929 · 47 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 139 records for Patillas Municipio, Puerto Rico from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 101 days; the most frequent are floods and flash floods (55 records). 97 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 July 13, 2024 rip current, filed for the forecast zone Southeast, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 29 declarations naming the county since 1970, 27 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 101 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 41 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $175Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 29latest 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 Patillas Municipio most?
The most frequent records are floods and flash floods: 55 since 2003. 44% of its floods and flash floods since 2003 fell in July and August. Census land area gives no figure for Patillas Municipio under this code, so it carries no per-area rank.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | 55 | 33 | 2003-2024 | 0 | 0 | $7.0M | – |
| Landslides and avalanches | 19 | 17 | 2004-2023 | 0 | 0 | $75K | – |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 16 | 10 | 2000-2024 | 1 | 1 | $166M | – |
| Heat | 12 | 12 | 2023-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Wildfires | 11 | 11 | 2005-2014 | 0 | 0 | $575K | – |
| Drought | 8 | 8 | 1997-2022 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | – |
| Rip currents and high surf | 7 | 5 | 2004-2024 | 3 | 0 | $26K | – |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 2001-2004 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2013-2024 | 0 | 0 | $5K | – |
| High wind and dust storms | 2 | 2 | 2011-2018 | 0 | 0 | $8K | – |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 2 | 2017-2024 | 0 | 0 | $4K | – |
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 Patillas Municipio?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 13, 2024 rip current (1 death).
An 86-year-old male was found floating in Playa Guilarte in Arroyo, PR. A 911 call alerted the authorities and took the victim to a nearby hospital, where the doctors confirmed the fatality.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1196924)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-13 | Rip CurrentArroyo Municipio and 5 more · forecast zone Southeast | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-09-01 | Rip CurrentGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-08-22 | Tropical StormGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2016-02-23 | Rip CurrentGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2011-09-12 | FloodPatillas Municipio | 0 | 0 | $394K | |
| 2011-01-01 | WildfireGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast | 0 | 0 | $261K | |
| 2005-03-01 | DroughtGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2005-02-01 | WildfireGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast | 0 | 0 | $302K | |
| 2004-09-14 | Tropical StormGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast | 1 | 0 | $159M | |
| 2003-11-10 | FloodGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast | 0 | 0 | $6.4M | |
| 2001-08-22 | Tropical StormGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast | 0 | 0 | $7.0M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-13 | Rip CurrentArroyo Municipio and 5 more · forecast zone Southeast An 86-year-old male was found floating in Playa Guilarte in Arroyo, PR. A 911 call alerted the authorities and took the victim to a nearby hospital, where the doctors confirmed the fatality. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-09-01 | Rip CurrentGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast A 75-year-old man was reported missing after he went snorkeling in Playa Guayans. His body was later recovered. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2016-02-23 | Rip CurrentGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast A tourist was carried away by Rip Current and drowned. His son was also carried away but survived. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2004-09-14 | Tropical StormGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast Tropical Storm Jeanne and its associated weather affected Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra from Sep. 14-17. On its wake it left considerable damages to the electric power grid, the water supply system, highways and roads, bridges, schools, individual households, businesses and commerce due to extensive flooding, ... | 1 | 0 | $159M | |
| 2020-08-22 | Tropical StormGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast A man fell trying to hold his zinc roof in sector Coqui in Salinas. The man's condition was stable. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-09-14 | Tropical StormGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast | 1 | 0 | $159M | |
| 2001-08-22 | Tropical StormGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast | 0 | 0 | $7.0M | |
| 2005-03-01 | DroughtGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2011-09-12 | FloodPatillas Municipio | 0 | 0 | $394K | |
| 2011-01-01 | WildfireGuayama Municipio and 4 more · forecast zone Southeast | 0 | 0 | $261K |
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 Patillas 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 | 17 | 21 | 17 |
| Landslides and avalanches | – | – | – | – | 0 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 4 | 2 | 10 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
44% of its floods and flash floods since 2003 fell in July and August. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 3 · Feb 9 · Mar 4 · Apr 1 · May 13 · Jun 17 · Jul 15 · Aug 35 · Sep 16 · Oct 13 · Nov 6 · Dec 7 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Patillas Municipio
FEMA's register lists 29 declarations that include Patillas Municipio: 19 major disasters, 10 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (14) and severe storm (6).
| 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 |
| 2017-09-10 | DR-4336 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2011-08-27 | DR-4017 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-08-22 | EM-3326 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010-10-26 | DR-1946 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides Assoc W Ts Otto |
| 2008-10-01 | DR-1798 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-09-17 | DR-1552 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Jeanne and Resulting Landslides and Mudslides |
| 2003-11-21 | DR-1501 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 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 |
| 1992-01-22 | DR-931 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1989-09-21 | DR-842 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hugo |
| 1987-12-17 | DR-805 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1985-10-10 | DR-746 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding & Mudslides |
| 1979-09-02 | DR-597 | Hurricane | Hurricane David |
| 1975-09-19 | DR-483 | Flood | Tropical Storm Elioise |
| 1974-11-30 | DR-455 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1970-10-12 | DR-296 | 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 Patillas Municipio had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 55 flood or flash flood records for Patillas Municipio from 2003 to 2024, on 33 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Patillas Municipio ranks 1177th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Jeanne | 2004-09-14 | 1 | 1 |
| Tropical Storm Laura | 2020-08-22 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Maria | 2011-09-12 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $604,000 on 128 claims filed in Patillas Municipio; the most in one year was 24 in 1979. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 7 · 1979: 24 · 1980: 9 · 1981: 1 · 1984: 3 · 1985: 13 · 1986: 1 · 1988: 5 · 1989: 2 · 1992: 3 · 1993: 4 · 1994: 2 · 1996: 10 · 1998: 7 · 1999: 3 · 2003: 4 · 2004: 4 · 2005: 4 · 2008: 13 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 4 · 2011: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2024: 1; the other years: 0.
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.
Counties that share a border with Patillas 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 Patillas MunicipioThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Patillas Municipio's FEMA declarations (CSV)29 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis