Wakulla County, Florida
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 12129 · population 33,756 · 606 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 617 records for Wakulla County, Florida from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 317 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (357 records). The deadliest day on its record was October 10, 2018: hurricane (typhoon) records filed for Wakulla County that day count 2 deaths across 2 records. FEMA has issued 45 declarations naming the county since 1972, 43 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
- 617on 317 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 48 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $594Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 26strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 45latest 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 Wakulla County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 357 since 1962. 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 | 357 | 165 | 1962-2026 | 1 | 2 | $1.6M | 17 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 61 | 41 | 1996-2024 | 2 | 0 | $569M | 5 of 67 |
| Drought | 52 | 30 | 2011-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 of 67 |
| Hail | 36 | 26 | 1971-2025 | 0 | 0 | $4K | 50 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 26 | 22 | 1964-2023 | 0 | 3 | $6.6M | 48 of 67 |
| Floods | 22 | 22 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | $15M | 32 of 67 |
| Heavy rain | 18 | 7 | 2011-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 67 |
| Heat | 16 | 8 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 6 | 3 | 2022-2026 | 1 | 0 | $101K | 37 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 6 | 3 | 2014-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 15 of 67 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 5 | 5 | 2001-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 50 of 67 |
| Wildfires | 5 | 5 | 1998-2004 | 0 | 2 | – | 28 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 4 | 3 | 2011-2024 | 0 | 0 | $86K | 29 of 67 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2010-2024 | 0 | 1 | $370K | 59 of 67 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | $38K | 28 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 Wakulla County had?
NOAA records 26 tornadoes in Wakulla County from 1964 to 2023, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries recorded in the county. 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 26 tornadoes whose track touched Wakulla County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 26, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Florida.
Every tornado record filed for Wakulla County (26)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-27 | Smith Creek, Wakulla County | EF0 2.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-01-22 | Vereen, Wakulla County | EF1 0.33 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $97K |
| 2022-12-14 | Bethel, Wakulla County | EF0 1.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-12-14 | Sanborn, Wakulla County | EF1 5.69 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2022-05-06 | Port Leon, Wakulla County | EF0 2.51 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-09-08 | Arran, Wakulla County | EF0 1.45 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-04-23 | Vereen, Wakulla County | EF1 3.85 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $29K |
| 2019-04-19 | Smith Creek, Wakulla County | EF0 6.97 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-03-03 | Smith Creek, Wakulla County | EF0 18.37 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2019-03-03 | Newport, Wakulla County | EF0 0.66 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-07-29 | Ivan, Wakulla County | EF1 2.49 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $64K |
| 2006-04-22 | Crawfordville, Wakulla County | F0 4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2005-12-05 | Crawfordville, Wakulla County | F1 4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2000-09-22 | Sopchoppy, Wakulla County | F0 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 2000-09-22 | Hilliardville, Wakulla County | F1 1.5 mi x 65 yd | 0 | 0 | $300K |
| 1995-11-11 | Horseshoe Beach, Wakulla County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 1993-10-29 | Panacea, Wakulla County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-06-10 | Wakulla County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-06-10 | Wakulla County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-06-08 | Wakulla County | F1 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1983-12-28 | Wakulla County | F1 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1983-04-23 | Wakulla County | F1 8 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1976-05-11 | Wakulla County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1975-01-08 | Wakulla County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1974-03-21 | Wakulla County | F1 4.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1964-04-25 | Wakulla County | F2 0.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K 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 Wakulla County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 23, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindHilliardville, Wakulla County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-20 | Thunderstorm WindCrawfordville, Wakulla County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindCrawfordville, Wakulla County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindIvan, Wakulla County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindCrawfordville, Wakulla County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtWakulla County · forecast zone Coastal Wakulla | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtWakulla County · forecast zone Inland Wakulla | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtWakulla County · forecast zone Inland Wakulla | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtWakulla County · forecast zone Coastal Wakulla | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtWakulla County · forecast zone Inland Wakulla | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtWakulla County · forecast zone Coastal Wakulla | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindCrawfordville, Wakulla County | 50 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-12-24 | Cold/Wind ChillWakulla County · forecast zone Coastal Wakulla The coldest temperatures in about 10 years descended into the tri-state region during the Dec 24-26 period. Low temperatures dipped well down into the teens with high temperatures remaining in the 30s, and even at or below freezing in southeast Alabama on Dec 24th. This extended period of below freezing temperatures ... | 1 | 0 | $50K | |
| 2018-10-10 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Wakulla County · forecast zone Inland Wakulla Hurricane Michael started as typical weak October Caribbean tropical system. However, after approximately a week of slow development, the system moved into warm Gulf of Mexico waters and rapidly intensified into a major hurricane as it moved north towards the Florida Panhandle. After a 2-day long intensification ... | 1 | 0 | $294M | |
| 2018-10-10 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Wakulla County · forecast zone Coastal Wakulla Hurricane Michael started as typical weak October Caribbean tropical system. However, after approximately a week of slow development, the system moved into warm Gulf of Mexico waters and rapidly intensified into a major hurricane as it moved north towards the Florida Panhandle. After a 2-day long intensification ... | 1 | 0 | $118M | |
| 2015-07-19 | Thunderstorm WindWakulla County A large tree fell on a mobile home on Timberwood Ct and killed the 25 year old female occupant as reported by WTXL-TV. | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $93K |
| 1998-06-01 | WildfireSouthwest Portion, Wakulla County Lightning strikes and numerous hot spots ignited new wildfires in the Apalachicola National Forest. A temporary shelter was established in Crawfordville. Eight to ten homes were threatened in the Smith Creek area, just north of Sopchoppy. Two firefighters sustained heat-related injuries. Approximately 24,621 acres of ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 1964-04-25 | TornadoWakulla County | F2 0.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 2014-01-11 | Thunderstorm WindShadeville, Wakulla County A tree fell on a home on Klickitat Dr. One woman suffered minor injuries. Monetary damage was estimated. | 55 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $62K |
| 2010-07-14 | LightningIvan, Wakulla County The Wakulla News newspaper reported that a house was hit by lightning and destroyed on Shoemaker Court off of Ivan Church Road in Crawfordville. Nobody was home at the time. Two dogs were rescued. The damage was listed at $272,000 according to the newspaper. A jogger also reportedly suffered an electric shock when ... | 0 | 1 | $368K |
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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-10-10 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Wakulla County · forecast zone Coastal Wakulla | 1 | 0 | $118M | |
| 2018-10-10 | Storm Surge/TideWakulla County · forecast zone Coastal Wakulla | 0 | 0 | $118M | |
| 2005-07-09 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Leon County and Wakulla County · forecast zone Wakulla | 0 | 0 | $12M | |
| 2012-06-25 | Flash FloodSmith Creek, Wakulla County | 0 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2008-08-22 | Tropical StormLeon County and Wakulla County · forecast zone Wakulla | 0 | 0 | $6.9M | |
| 2005-12-05 | TornadoCrawfordville, Wakulla County | F1 4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2000-09-22 | Flash FloodCountywide, Wakulla County | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | |
| 1998-09-02 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Leon County and Wakulla County · forecast zone Wakulla | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 25, 1964 (tornado, Wakulla County); March 21, 1974 (tornado, Wakulla 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 Wakulla 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 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 37 | 175 | 119 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 23 | 20 | 16 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 28 | 24 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 7 | 4 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 11 | 5 | 5 |
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 Wakulla County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 81 · Feb 66 · Mar 43 · Apr 43 · May 44 · Jun 104 · Jul 65 · Aug 59 · Sep 49 · Oct 24 · Nov 16 · Dec 23 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Wakulla County
FEMA's register lists 45 declarations that include Wakulla County: 29 major disasters, 15 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for hurricane (23) and severe storm (8).
| 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 |
| 2024-06-17 | DR-4794 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2023-08-31 | DR-4734 | Hurricane | Hurricane Idalia |
| 2023-08-28 | EM-3596 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Idalia |
| 2022-12-13 | DR-4680 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nicole |
| 2022-11-08 | EM-3587 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Nicole |
| 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 |
| 2021-07-04 | EM-3561 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Elsa |
| 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 |
| 2018-10-11 | DR-4399 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2018-10-09 | EM-3405 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2017-09-10 | DR-4337 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-05 | EM-3385 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016-09-28 | DR-4280 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hermine |
| 2012-07-03 | DR-4068 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2009-04-21 | DR-1831 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2008-08-24 | DR-1785 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Fay |
| 2008-08-21 | EM-3288 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Fay |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3220 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-07-10 | DR-1595 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dennis |
| 2004-09-26 | DR-1561 | Hurricane | Hurricane Jeanne |
| 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 |
| 2001-06-17 | DR-1381 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Allison |
| 2000-10-03 | DR-1344 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 1999-04-27 | EM-3139 | Fire | Fl-Fires 04/15/99 |
| 1999-04-19 | FM-2257 | Fire | Fl-Fires 04/13/99 |
| 1998-09-25 | EM-3131 | Hurricane | Hurricane Grorges |
| 1998-09-04 | DR-1241 | Hurricane | Hurricane Earl |
| 1998-06-18 | DR-1223 | Fire | Extreme Fire Hazard |
| 1995-10-04 | DR-1069 | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal |
| 1993-03-13 | DR-982 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Flooding, High Winds & Tides, Freezing |
The 40 most recent of 45 are listed; the CSV has every one.
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 Wakulla County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 22 flood or flash flood records for Wakulla County from 1998 to 2024, on 22 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Wakulla County ranks 239th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Michael | 2018-10-10 | 3 | 2 |
| Hurricane Irma | 2017-09-10 | 2 | 0 |
| Hurricane Hermine | 2016-09-01 | 3 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Debby | 2012-06-25 | 2 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Fay | 2008-08-22 | 3 | 0 |
| Hurricane Katrina | 2005-08-28 | 2 | 0 |
| Hurricane Dennis | 2005-07-09 | 2 | 0 |
| Hurricane Frances | 2004-09-05 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | 2000-09-22 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Earl | 1998-09-02 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $34.4 million on 1,554 claims filed in Wakulla County; the most in one year was 477 in 2005. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1984: 1 · 1985: 243 · 1989: 1 · 1991: 5 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 12 · 1994: 48 · 1995: 131 · 1996: 1 · 1998: 215 · 2000: 11 · 2001: 3 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 4 · 2005: 477 · 2006: 2 · 2008: 14 · 2009: 8 · 2012: 54 · 2013: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 50 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 236 · 2019: 1 · 2024: 28 · 2026: 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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Wakulla County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wakulla County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $18.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $4.5M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $5.0M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $484K | 83 a year (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $767K | 4.5 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $852K | once in about 279 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.6M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $411K | 6.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $245K | 1 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Wakulla 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 Wakulla CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Wakulla County's FEMA declarations (CSV)45 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis