Hardee County, FL Environment & Hazard Risk

• Strong windVery High$10.2M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• HurricaneRelatively Moderate$8.8M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• WildfireRelatively Low$505K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 119 years
• LightningRelatively Moderate$475K/yr expected annual loss, about 97 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Low$299K/yr expected annual loss, about 17 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$1.2M/yr expected annual loss, about 3.7 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Low$860K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Heat waveVery Low$154K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.3 events a year
• HailVery Low$115K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.7 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$10.2K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3,521 years
• LandslideVery Low$10/yr expected annual loss, about once every 14 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, ice storm, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity, winter weather.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

118 of 9,203 (1.3%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

484

Insured in high-risk zones

72 (15%)

Flood claims since 1978

129

Claims paid since 1978

$6.1M

• Frost/Freeze40
• Dense Fog39
• Thunderstorm Wind37
• Hail23
• Flood22
• Tornado18
• Tropical Storm9
• Hurricane (Typhoon)8 · 4 deaths
• Flash Flood7
• Lightning6

• High Wind94 kt wind08/13/2004

  Hardee

  6 injured, $252M damage

  What happened

  The collective effects of Hurricane Charley in southwest and west central Florida during August 13th resulted in 8 direct fatalities, 16 indirect fatalities, 792 injuries, eight tornadoes, an eight foot storm surge in Lee County, an estimated $11.2 billion in property damage (estimated to be about twice that of the insured damage), and $460 million in crop damage. The fast movement of Hurricane Charley limited rain fall totals to 4 to 6 inches along the track of the hurricane's eye wall. River flooding of one to three feet above flood stage was found on area rivers south of Interstate 4. In Hardee County there were 6 injuries, zero fatalities, and damage was estimated at $750 million. A wind gust of 109 mph was recorded in Wauchula. Approximately 1,400 homes were destroyed and 3,600 homes had minor to major damage. The storm knocked out the power to the entire county. Many citrus groves north of Wauchula were severely damaged. In Highlands County there were reports of severely damaged homes in the Sebring and Avon Park areas. A radio tower was blown down near Sebring and numerous trees and power lines were downed in the eastern and northern parts of the county. In Polk...

• Hurricane (Typhoon)09/10/2017

  Hardee

  $59.1M damage

  What happened

  In Hardee County, the highest wind reported from Hurricane Irma was a gust to 69 knots at the Hardee County Emergency Operations Center in Wauchula. Rainfall was generally around 6 inches or greater, with the highest rain total being 10.58 inches at a mesonet station in Zolfo Springs. The wind resulted in damage to numerous homes, as well as knocking over trees and power lines. Hardee County Emergency Management reported that 10 homes or businesses were destroyed by Irma, 20 sustained major damage, 71 had minor damage, and an additional 59 were affected.||Additional damage occurred due to the high rain totals causing flooding on the Peace River. An EF-1 tornado was also found to have briefly touched down in Wauchula along US Highway 17 causing roof and power pole damage.||The total property damage from Hardee County was estimated at $3.32 million, of which, $1.64 million was estimated to be caused by wind damage. Additionally, crop damage to citrus plants in Hardee County was roughly estimated at $57.5 million.

• Hurricane (Typhoon)09/29/2022

  Hardee

  4 deaths, $1M damage

  What happened

  The highest wind reported in Hardee County from Hurricane Ian was an 81 mph wind gust in Wauchula at 11:20 PM EST on September 29. Rainfall generally ranged from 15 to 20 inches, with a maximum total of 20.13 inches near Zolfo Springs. The Peace River in Zolfo Springs reached a record flood level of 27.24 feet at 4:30 PM EST on September 29. 18 structures were destroyed, 114 received major damage, 367 received minor damage, and 337 were affected with another 88 inaccessible. There were 9 fatalities reported by the medical examiner, with 4 directly attributed to Hurricane Ian.

• Frost/Freeze01/11/2010

  Hardee

  $6.3M damage

  What happened

  Hardee county had below freezing temperatures for around 12 hours, with temperatures below 28 degrees for 4 to 6 hours. The FAWN station at Ona recorded the lowest temperature across the county of 25 degrees, with a station at Wauchula recording a low of 28 degrees. The county has 53,378 acres of harvested farmland, which translates into approximately $6.31 million in damages to crops.

• Strong Wind45 kt wind09/26/2004

  Hardee

  $4.4M damage

  What happened

  Hurricane Jeanne followed the nearly the same path across Florida as Hurricane Frances three weeks earlier and was the unprecedented fourth hurricane to damage Florida during the 2004 hurricane season. The hurricane moved ashore along the east coast of Florida near Stuart late on September 25th with an eye 30 to 40 miles across. Jeanne took a course north of Lake Okeechobee and decreased to a tropical storm in eastern Polk County around 9 AM EDT on the 26th. The center of Jeanne curved north of Tampa Bay during the afternoon and travelled north along the coastal counties before exiting north through Levy County around 10 PM. In Highlands County there were 140 homes destroyed and 2,000 homes with major damage. Emergency Management estimated the total damage to be $452 million. A peak wind of 82 knots (94 MPH) was recorded in Sebring at 3 AM EST on 09/26/2004. In Polk County a peak wind gust of 67 knots (77 MPH) was recorded in both Frostproof and Bartow between 5-6 AM EST on 09/26/2004. In Hardee and Sumter Counties the damage was limited to trees falling on homes, vehicles, and power lines. The damage total was estimated by doubling the insured losses unless otherwise...

• Frost/Freeze12/15/2010

  Hardee

  $3.9M damage

  What happened

  Hardee County recorded sub-freezing temperatures for 10 to 12 hours across much of the county. The cooperative station near Wauchula experienced the coldest temperature across the county of 24 degrees. The county has 53,378 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $3.92 million in crop damages.

• Wauchula City Water DepartmentServes 5,000 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Wauchula Hills WTP (Hardee County)Serves 3,038 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+10 monitoring or reporting
• Bowling Green, City ofServes 2,940 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+11 monitoring or reporting
• Zolfo Springs WTPServes 2,062 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+15 monitoring or reporting
• Hardee Correctional InstituteServes 1,900 · Groundwater · StateNo health violations+15 monitoring or reporting
• Brookside Bluff RV ParkServes 300 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+6 monitoring or reporting
• Peace River HeightsServes 250 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+6 monitoring or reporting
• Charlie Creek-The Village ofServes 142 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting