Floods, Storms & Hurricane Facts
- Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters outside of fire
- 90% of all presidential-declared U.S. natural disasters involve flooding
- Floods occur within all 50 states (they can occur any time, anywhere)
- Everyone lives in a flood zone
- Communities particularly at risk are those in low lying areas, coastal areas, or downstream from large bodies of water
- Just an inch of water can cause costly damage to your property
- A car can easily be carried away by just 2 feet of floodwater
- 25% of flooding occurs outside areas formally designated as being flood prone (i.e. Special Flood Hazard Areas)
- Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage
- In 2017 there were approximately 1.8 million flood insurance policies in force in Florida
- In 2017, floods caused approximately 60.7 billion U.S. dollars worth of property and crop damage across the United States
- Since 2000, Florida has experienced five federally declared disasters due to flooding, and has sustained severe flood damage from a number of major hurricanes and tropical storms
- As of 2018, the City of Naples has approximately 14,713 flood insurance policies in force
- The City of Naples is a Class 5 and can receive up to 25% off their flood insurance policy
- Due to the City of Naples’ participation in the NFIP and the CRS, these flood programs currently save residents over $3.9 million per year in flood insurance premiums
Tropical Storm Fay, August 14 - 28, 2008
A major tropical storm, Fay ultimately caused 36 deaths and $560 million in damage, as well as spawning 81 tornadoes throughout the state. Fay was the first storm to hit the same state four times, and was the first storm to prompt storm warnings across every coast in Florida. The storm made four landfalls throughout Florida, including making landfall in Naples on August 19. Fay caused extreme flooding throughout the state, forcing native wildlife, including alligators to swim through many flooded neighborhoods. Rainfall for the Naples area ranged from 7-10" and locally severe beach erosion took place on the Naples shores.
Hurricane Irma, August 31 - September 13, 2017
Hurricane Irma was a 2017 Atlantic hurricane, the strongest observed in the Atlantic in terms of maximum sustained winds since Wilma in 2005. The storm first made US landfall on Cudjoe Key with winds at 130 mph, on September 10 at a Category 4. Irma then weakened to a Category 3, prior to making another landfall on Marco Island later that day with sustained winds at 112 mph just a few miles south of the city limits of Naples. An estimated 6.5 million Floridians evacuated making it the largest evacuation in the state's history. Hurricane Irma was the first hurricane in almost 12 years to directly impact Naples since Hurricane Wilma in 2005.
Hurricane Ian September 23-30, 2022
Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwestern Florida at a category 4 intensity(on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale), producing catastrophic storm surge, damaging winds, and historic freshwater flooding across much of central and northern Florida. Ian was responsible for over 150 direct and indirect deaths and over $112 billion in damage, making it the most costly hurricane in Florida's history and the third most costly in United States history. Ian also made landfall as a category 3 hurricane in western Cuba bringing widespread damage and loss of power to the entire island. Ian made final landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in South Carolina.
