Leon County, FL Environment & Hazard Risk

• Cold waveRelatively High$24.4M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.4 events a year
• HurricaneRelatively High$43M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• TornadoRelatively High$19.2M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$3.7M/yr expected annual loss, about 6.6 events a year
• Strong windRelatively High$2.4M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.3 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Moderate$1.5M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 695 years
• LightningRelatively Moderate$618K/yr expected annual loss, about 81 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$718K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,171 years
• LandslideRelatively Low$3,417/yr expected annual loss, about once every 9 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$75K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 5 years
• HailRelatively Low$225K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• DroughtVery Low$21.5K/yr expected annual loss, about 19 events a year
• Coastal floodingVery Low$1,197/yr expected annual loss, about once every 83 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, ice storm, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

2,487 of 92,556 (2.7%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

2,899

Insured in high-risk zones

1,158 (40%)

Flood claims since 1978

1,015

Claims paid since 1978

$11.9M

• Thunderstorm Wind804 · 5 deaths
• Hail115
• Flash Flood98 · 1 death
• Heavy Rain72
• Lightning37 · 1 death
• Drought34
• Flood32
• Tornado23 · 2 deaths
• Tropical Storm20
• Excessive Heat8

• Hurricane (Typhoon)10/10/2018

  Leon

  3 deaths, $150M 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...

• TornadoEF2, 24.81 mi path, 1,400 yd wide05/10/2024

  Fort Braden, Leon County

  2 deaths, $92.1M damage

  What happened

  The tornado touched down in Lake Talquin State Park at Williams Landing, promptly producing EF-1 damage snapping numerous softwood and hardwood trees. The tornado would then continue trekking east-southeast before making a hard right and traveling due east as it passed the intersection of Blountstown Highway and Ft. Braden Trail Road, producing damage consistent with an EF-1 rating by snapping numerous hardwood and softwood trees along the way. The tornado would then continue east, paralleling Blountstown Highway as it then impacted Lake Talquin State Recreational Area where it would continue producing EF-1 damage by snapping trees. The tornado would then shift its trajectory to east-southeast once again, impacting many subdivisions in the Norfleet neighborhood south of Blountstown Highway snapping numerous trees across the area. It would then continue on its east- southeast path before traveling east once again as it reached just north of the intersection of Capital Circle SW and Orange Ave W in Tallahassee. It would then go on to impact the neighborhoods of Seminole Manor and Mabry Manor snapping many trees along the way and causing damage to Sabal Palm Elementary School....

• TornadoEF2, 9.17 mi path, 900 yd wide05/10/2024

  Andrew, Leon County

  $92M damage

  What happened

  This is a continuation of the Gadsden county tornado. The Leon county portion of this tornado is rated EF2. Extensive tree damage was noted at a mobile home park on Emily Loop where several homes were damaged by falling trees. The tornado caused roof and siding damage to a hotel and shopping center near the intersection of Capital Circle Northwest and U.S. 90. The tornado appears to have intensified as it moved southeast after crossing Capital Circle and approaching Blountstown Highway. EF-2 damage was noted to an automotive repair building along Blountstown Highway, along with intense tree damage, with a swath of nearly every pine tree snapped at approximately 75 feet above the ground. This level of damage continues across Pat Thomas Boulevard. Significant tree damage was noted on the campuses of Lively Technical College and Tallahassee Community College before the tornado crossed Appleyard Drive. Another area of intense tree damage was noted along Cactus Drive, consistent with an EF-2 rating. Numerous homes were damaged by falling trees. The tornado then moved through a densely populated area of single family and multi-family homes, causing widespread EF-1 tree damage....

• Tropical Storm08/22/2008

  Leon

  $35M damage

  What happened

  Rainfall from Fay varied from ten to 24 inches. Numerous trees and power lines were down throughout the county. Numerous state and county roads were closed by flood waters. There were a few road collapses, which included a portion of Capital Circle NE just south of Mahan Drive. The Timberlake subdivision east of Tallahassee was cut off by flood waters during the storm, which affected 230 homes. The total number of homes affected by flooding countywide was 450. Twenty homes were damaged and 14 were destroyed by fallen trees and flooding. Flooding was observed along the Ochlockonee River and Munson Slough. The crest at Havana was 33.71 feet, which was at major flood stage and 1.4 feet below the record flood stage.

• Tropical Storm09/02/2016

  Leon

  $30M damage

  What happened

  Hurricane Hermine impacted the Florida big bend in early September with significant storm surge along the coast and strong winds inland which downed numerous trees and power lines, resulting in extended power outages in Tallahassee. The following inundation values (height above mean higher high water) were estimated along the coast. Panama City Beach: 1.71 ft, Panama City Marina: 1.60 ft, Apalachicola: 3.04 ft, Curtis Mill (US-319): 5.29 ft, Spring Creek Entrance: 5.91 ft, Town of Saint Marks: 5.08 ft, Saint Marks Lighthouse: 6.28 ft, Nutall Rise (Aucilla River): 6.07 ft, Econfina River: 7.17 ft, Spring Warrior Creek: 8.57 ft, Jabo Road (Taylor county): 7.94 ft, Keaton Beach: 7.57 ft, Steinhatchee Entrance: 7.30 ft, Shired Creek (Dixie county): 7.24 ft, Gopher River (Dixie county): 6.19 ft. In addition, storm surge was noted up the Suwannee River past the US-19 gauge at Wilcox, which is more than 20 river miles from the mouth of the river. The Wakulla River at Wakulla Springs also had its 2nd highest crest on record behind Hurricane Dennis (2005) at 7.49 ft NGVD29. There were three tornadoes confirmed, all brief EF0's in Taylor county with no damage reported...

• Flash Flood06/12/2001

  Countywide, Leon County

  1 death, $20M damage

  What happened

  Intense rainbands from the remnants of Tropical Storm Allison dumped up to 11 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. The official 24-hour rainfall total at the Tallahassee Regional Airport of 10.13 inches broke the previous record of 9.47 inches set in 1969. Federal disaster aid was declared for Leon County where nearly 600 residences, mobile homes, apartments and businesses were damaged or destroyed by floodwaters. There were numerous reports of people stranded in their vehicles on flooded streets and intersections in Tallahassee and surrounding areas. Several people were rescued from their flooded homes and apartments. One man drowned when his vehicle was swept into a culvert near Brevard and Dewey Streets in Tallahassee. His body was found several miles downstream in a ditch near Lake Bradford Road and Gamble Street. Numerous streets were damaged or strewn with debris. Reported by the Tallahassee PD and the Florida Emergency Management Division.

• Tallahassee, City ofServes 200,480 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Bradfordville Regional W/SServes 11,395 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations
• Lake Jackson Area Water SystemServes 10,643 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations
• Meadows-At-WoodrunServes 3,912 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations
• Leon Co. Regional System WestServes 2,130 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Leon Co. Regional System EastServes 1,984 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Leon Co. Regional System SouthServes 845 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Plantation EstatesServes 369 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations