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Risk: Relatively Low

Jackson County, FL Environment & Hazard Risk

Relatively Low natural hazard risk, led by hurricane. 676 storm events since 1996.

Expected yearly loss
$25.33M
Relatively Low nationally
Storm events since 1996
676
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
104
0.6% of homes
Hurricanes nearby
6
17 tropical storms or stronger since 1851

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025

Overall risk

Relatively Low

Score 75.7 of 100

Social vulnerability

Relatively High

Score 78.7 of 100

Community resilience

Relatively Low

Score 26.4 of 100

Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.

Building value exposed: $8.99B · Agriculture value exposed: $120M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $36.51M

Risk by hazard

  • HurricaneRelatively High$12.99M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 5 years
  • LightningRelatively High$741K/yr expected annual loss, about 77 events a year
  • DroughtRelatively Moderate$717K/yr expected annual loss, about 27 events a year
  • Cold waveRelatively Moderate$1.52M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.9 events a year
  • Heat waveRelatively Low$622K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.5 events a year
  • TornadoRelatively Low$1.25M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
  • Strong windRelatively Moderate$434K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.6 events a year
  • EarthquakeVery Low$215K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 957 years
  • WildfireVery Low$33.78K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,384 years
  • LandslideVery Low$334/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
  • Winter weatherVery Low$15.38K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
  • HailVery Low$42.65K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.0 events a year
  • Ice stormVery Low$5,749/yr expected annual loss, about once every 41 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, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Flood risk and insurance

National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance
104 of 18,666 (0.6%)
Homes in high-risk flood zones
451
Insured in high-risk zones
62 (14%)
Flood claims since 1978
72
Claims paid since 1978
$877K

Flood claims paid per year

Flood claims paid per year in Jackson County
  • Hurricane Michael$148K · 14 claims
  • Hurricane Sally$103K · 2 claims
  • Tropical Storm Alberto$98.18K · 4 claims
  • Hurricane Helene$31.23K · 2 claims
  • Mid-spring storms$1,562 · 1 claim
  • Hurricane Josephine$259 · 1 claim

Storm history

Since 1996: 676 events, 5 deaths, $760M in damage

  • Thunderstorm Wind374
  • Flash Flood91
  • Hail43
  • Drought43
  • Flood29
  • Tornado29
  • Tropical Storm16
  • Excessive Heat12
  • Heavy Rain9
  • Funnel Cloud8

Events per year

Storm events per year in Jackson County
9
6
17
11
23
41
20
28
42
37
19
28
33
31
19
32
52
75
19
31

50 tornadoes on record (EF0 8, EF1 8, EF2 2, F0 7, F1 16, F2 5).

Most damaging storms

Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage

  • Hurricane (Typhoon)10/10/2018

    Jackson

    5 deaths, $650M damage

    What happened

    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 period over the eastern Gulf, Michael made landfall as an unprecedented (for the region) high-end category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale in the Florida Panhandle with maximum sustained wind speed of 155 mph and a minimum pressure 919 mb. Based on wind, Michael is the fourth most powerful hurricane to hit the United States, behind the Labor Day Hurricane (1935), Hurricane Camille (1969) and Hurricane Andrew (1992), and the most powerful storm to impact the Florida Panhandle in recorded history. Based on central pressure, Michael is the third most powerful hurricane to hit the United States, behind only the Labor Day Hurricane (1935) and Hurricane Camille (1969). The storm caused catastrophic damage from wind and storm surge, particularly in the Panama City Beach to Mexico Beach to Cape San Blas areas. The widespread catastrophic damage spread...

  • Flood03/10/1998

    Jackson

    $70M damage

    What happened

    Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Walton, and Jackson counties were declared federal disaster areas. Nearly 6 inches of rain from March 8-9 caused urban/small stream flooding in Bayou George and much of the north and northwest Bay County. In Calhoun County, 28 county roads and State Road 69 were closed to flooding. Approximately 400 homes and businesses sustained flood damage (57 in Blountstown). The Chipola River at Altha crested near 31.2 feet on March 14. The Apalachicola River at Blountstown crested near 27.2 feet (third highest) on March 13. In Dixie County, rising waters along the Suwannee River forced the evacuation of 200 residents. Numerous county and secondary roads were flooded. In Franklin County, rising waters along the Apalachicola River flooded 40 to 50 homes near Fort Gadsden and Bay City. In Gadsden County, floodwaters closed State Road 12 near Concord. In Gulf County, nearly 600 homes sustained flood damage and more than 60 county and secondary roads were closed where water was four feet deep in places. Howard Creek (pop. 400) experienced the worst flooding. More than 2000 people were evacuated. In Holmes County, flooding along...

  • TornadoEF2, 16.33 mi path, 600 yd wide01/09/2024

    Simsville, Jackson County

    7 injured, $5M damage

    What happened

    The tornado began in an open field that paralleled highway 73 in central Jackson county. The tornado continued to the northeast before crossing Pandora road where it uprooted a couple large pine trees, one of which fell on an older single wide trailer, which was completely destroyed. Another slightly newer single wide trailer had half of its roof peeled back and blown into the woods behind it to the northeast. The tornado continued to the northeast where it crossed Magnolia road. Several trees were uprooted and snapped along the road. A brand new manufactured home had half of its roof blown off. A trailer park along Mark lane had several large trees snapped or uprooted, and a few roofs were peeled back on some of the single wide homes in the subdivision. The tornado then went on to cross I-10 where an 18 wheeler was knocked over. After crossing I-10, the tornado paralleled Spring Creek road where it snapped and uprooted several large hardwood trees as well as peeled back part of the roof of a shed. The tornado continued to the northeast where it crossed U.S. Highway 90 where a majority of the damage and seven injuries occurred in an RV Park and neighborhood. Several mobile...

  • Hurricane (Typhoon)09/15/2004

    Jackson

    3 injured, $5M damage

    What happened

    Hurricane Ivan made landfall near Gulf Shores, AL, during the predawn hours of September 16. Maximum sustained winds reached 50 knots, with gusts to 62 knots at Buoy 42039, 80 miles south of Panama City, FL. The lowest sea-level pressure was 999.6 mb at Panama City. Rainfall totals ranged from 9.26 inches at Mossy Head, FL, to 0.15 inches at Cross City, FL. Storm tides along the Gulf coast varied from ten feet in Bay and Walton counties to four feet in Taylor and Dixie counties. Large swells from Ivan began to the affect the Gulf coast from the St. Joseph Peninsula to the Suwannee River on September 14. Storm surges continued for several hours after landfall. Beach erosion varied from extreme (20 to 40 feet) in Walton County to minor at St. George Island. Minor areal flooding affected much of the Florida Panhandle, including Walton, Bay, Holmes, Calhoun, Jackson and Gulf counties. Sharp rises to near or slightly above minor flood levels occurred on the Choctawhatchee River at Caryville, the Apalachicola River at Blountstown, and the Shoal River at Mossy Head. An estimated 165,000 customers were without power. There were widespread reports of downed trees and power...

  • Flash Flood09/16/2020

    Graceville, Jackson County

    $7M damage

    What happened

    The Jackson County Sheriffs Office Facebook page reported many roads flooded in the county. Damage cost was estimated.

  • Flood04/30/2014

    Richter Crossroads, Jackson County

    $6.69M damage

    What happened

    Major flooding occurred across Jackson county at the end of the month due to a combination of very heavy rainfall and already saturated conditions. Many roads in the county sustained damage with damage estimated at $6,691,424.

Latest storm reports

Newest first

  • Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/30/2026

    Marianna, Jackson County

  • Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/30/2026

    Union City, Jackson County

  • Excessive Heat07/29/2026

    Jackson

  • Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/19/2026

    Marianna, Jackson County

  • Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/16/2026

    Marianna, Jackson County

  • Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/15/2026

    (Mai)marianna Municipal Arpt, Jackson County

  • Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind06/02/2026

    Two Egg, Jackson County

    $2,000 damage

  • Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind06/02/2026

    Marianna, Jackson County

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Storms whose track crossed Jackson County, with the wind when it passed

Drinking water

15 community water systems serve about 23,418 people. Violations since 2021.

2 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 3 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.

Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.

Climate

1991-2020 normals at Marianna MUNI AP, 3.7 mi from the county center

Summer highs peak around 92°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 41°F in Jan. About 51.1 inches of rain falls in a typical year.

MonthHighLowRain
Jan63°F41°F4.04 in
Feb67°F44°F4.49 in
Mar74°F49°F5.01 in
Apr80°F55°F3.72 in
May88°F64°F3.15 in
Jun91°F71°F5.07 in
Jul92°F73°F5.10 in
Aug91°F73°F4.93 in
Sep89°F69°F4.06 in
Oct81°F58°F3.06 in
Nov72°F47°F3.67 in
Dec65°F43°F4.81 in
Year68°F average51.1 in

Pollution sites

2 Superfund sites and 3 toxic release facilities in Jackson County

Superfund sites

Toxic release facilities

Total: 32,941 lbs in 2024, 32,368 lbs to air.

Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk8 historic places

Frequently asked questions

How risky is Jackson County for natural disasters?
FEMA rates Jackson County relatively low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $25.33M a year. The highest-rated hazards are hurricane (relatively high), lightning (relatively high), drought (relatively moderate).
What storms are most common in Jackson County?
Since 1996, NOAA recorded 676 storm events affecting Jackson County, most often thunderstorm wind (374), flash flood (91), hail (43).
How many tornadoes have hit Jackson County?
50 tornadoes have been recorded in Jackson County since 1950.
How many homes in Jackson County have flood insurance?
104 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Jackson County, covering about 0.6% of homes. The program has paid $877K on 72 claims here since 1978.
What is the weather like in Jackson County?
At Marianna MUNI AP, average highs reach 92°F in Jul and lows fall to 41°F in Jan, with 51.1 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).

Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.