Did This House Flood? How to Check a Pinellas Beach Home’s Flood History
Updated October 2026.
Hurricane Helene’s storm surge in September 2024 put water in thousands of homes on the Pinellas beaches. FEMA’s data shows 10,081 federal flood insurance claims in the beach ZIP codes from that one storm, with about $1.46 billion paid and a median of $121,454 per claim. If you are buying a beach home, its flood history is one of the first things to check. Here is how, and what the records show for each town.
How often the beaches flood: claims by storm
Federal flood insurance claims in the beach ZIP codes from St. Pete Beach and Tierra Verde to Clearwater Beach, 1978 to 2026:
| Storm | Claims | Median paid per claim |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene, September 2024 | 10,081 | $121,454 |
| Hurricane Milton, October 2024 | 471 | $9,270 |
| Hurricane Idalia, August 2023 | 688 | $53,388 |
| Hurricane Eta, November 2020 | 505 | $51,134 |
| Tropical Storm Debby, June 2012 | 222 | $11,056 |
| Hurricane Josephine, October 1996 | 1,526 | $8,332 |
| Storm of the Century, March 1993 | 1,581 | $7,430 |
| Hurricane Elena, 1985 | 3,169 | $4,799 |
| “No-Name Storm,” June 1982 | 1,010 | $1,736 |
Older dollar amounts are not adjusted for inflation, and far fewer homes carried flood insurance in the 1980s, so the counts are not a full measure of how many homes flooded. In a typical year the beach ZIP codes see few claims: the median year since 1978 had 29, and 30 of the 48 years from 1978 through 2025 had fewer than 50. Thirteen years had more than 100, and 2024 had more than 10,000.
Helene flood claims by town
| Town | Helene claims | Median paid per claim | All claims since 1978 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Pete Beach | 2,104 | $137,607 | 3,753 |
| Treasure Island | 1,765 | $136,487 | 3,436 |
| Indian Rocks Beach | 1,184 | $85,701 | 2,071 |
| Madeira Beach | 1,150 | $125,115 | 3,574 |
| Clearwater Beach area (ZIP 33767) | 1,124 | $135,501 | 2,223 |
| Redington Shores | 598 | $107,276 | 1,105 |
| Redington Beach | 545 | $164,771 | 1,867 |
| Belleair Beach | 413 | $144,988 | 1,042 |
| Indian Shores | 321 | $26,019 | 574 |
| North Redington Beach | 315 | $162,420 | 558 |
| Tierra Verde and Isla del Sol (unincorporated, ZIP 33715) | 174 | $7,888 | 264 |
A claim is one insured building or unit. Condo buildings can generate many claims from one address, and homes without flood insurance are not counted.
Seven ways to check a specific home
- Read the seller’s flood disclosure. Since October 1, 2025, Florida sellers of residential property must tell buyers about any flooding that damaged the property while they owned it, any flood insurance claims, and any assistance they received to repair flood damage (section 689.302, Florida Statutes). It covers only the seller’s time as owner.
- Ask the seller for FEMA’s loss history. Only the current owner can request a property’s federal flood claim history. The seller emails a signed request to FEMA at fema-fmix@fema.dhs.gov, and most requests are completed in 7 to 10 business days. Ask for it early in your contract period.
- Search the city’s permit records. Each beach city has its own permit portal. Look for hurricane repair, drywall, electrical, flooring and air conditioning permits dated after September 2024, and for any elevation or demolition permits. In St. Pete Beach, search the city’s public permit portal by address.
- Ask about a substantial damage determination. If the city decided the building was substantially damaged, it must be elevated or replaced before it is repaired. Ask the city’s building department, and see what a letter means for a sale.
- Compare the elevation certificate with the flood level. The certificate shows the height of the lowest floor. If it sits below the base flood elevation, the home is more exposed, and flood insurance will cost more.
- Have the inspector look for flood signs. New drywall or baseboards in the lower few feet, replaced outlets and air handlers, water lines in the garage, and rusted fasteners are common clues after a surge.
- Get a flood insurance quote. A new federal policy is priced on the home’s flood risk, so a high quote tells you something even when the history is clean. See what flood insurance costs by town.
Does a home that flooded once flood again?
Not always. A home that was elevated or rebuilt after Helene may now sit well above the flood level, while a neighbor that was repaired at its old height has the same exposure as before. That is why the elevation certificate and the repair permits matter more than the storm history alone. Repairs under the 50% rule did not have to raise the home; only substantially damaged or substantially improved homes did.
How we help buyers
When we represent a buyer, we ask for the flood disclosure, the elevation certificate and the FEMA loss history up front, pull the permit history, and get flood insurance quotes before the inspection period ends. Team BeachSide is John and Nicole, licensed Florida Realtors with LoKation Real Estate, based in St. Pete Beach. Call or text (727) 955-1222, or start with our flood zones and insurance guide.
Sources: FEMA, OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, claims with reported ZIP codes 33706, 33708, 33785, 33786, 33767 and 33715, 1978 to 2026, grouped by NFIP community and storm name, pulled October 19, 2026 (Team BeachSide calculations; building plus contents paid); Florida Realtors, “Florida expands flood disclosures” (September 2025) on section 689.302, Florida Statutes; FEMA flood loss history request letter template (published by Seminole County); City of St. Pete Beach, Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage packet (February 10, 2026). General information, not legal advice.
How do I find out if a house flooded in Hurricane Helene?
Read the seller’s flood disclosure, ask the seller to request the property’s flood loss history from FEMA, and search the city’s permit records for repair permits after September 2024. Have your inspector look for signs of a surge, such as new drywall in the lower few feet.
Do Florida sellers have to disclose flooding?
Yes. Since October 1, 2025, sellers of residential property must disclose any flooding that damaged the property while they owned it, any flood insurance claims, and any assistance they received to repair flood damage.
How many homes flooded on St. Pete Beach in Hurricane Helene?
FEMA’s data shows 2,104 federal flood insurance claims in St. Pete Beach from Helene, with a median of about $137,600 paid per claim. Homes without flood insurance are not in that count.
How often does St. Pete Beach flood?
Since 1978, FEMA records 3,753 flood insurance claims in St. Pete Beach. Most came from a handful of storms: Elena in 1985, the 1993 Storm of the Century, Josephine in 1996, Eta in 2020, Idalia in 2023 and, by far the largest, Helene in 2024.
Can I get a home’s flood claim history as a buyer?
Not directly. FEMA releases a property’s loss history only to the current owner or the insured, so ask the seller to request it and share it with you during your inspection period.
