Northwest Florida and the Panhandle
Washington County property records and hazards
Washington County is home to about 26,500 people, and FEMA counts $4.1 billion in buildings there. FEMA's National Risk Index rates its overall natural-hazard risk "Relatively Low", higher than 59% of U.S. counties. For property, the costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes: together about $14.4 million of expected building damage a year. Its incorporated cities and towns are Caryville, Chipley, Ebro, Vernon and Wausau. 21 hurricanes have passed within 30 miles since 1851.1
What Washington County faces most
Ranked by FEMA's National Risk Index: the hazards expected to do the most damage to buildings in this county each year, with each hazard's FEMA risk rating.
- 1
Hurricanes
Relatively ModerateThe local numbers
- FEMA rates hurricane risk in Washington County "Relatively Moderate" (score 92.5 of 100, compared with every U.S. county).1
- Expected damage to buildings: about $10.3 million a year, the 41st-highest expected building loss from this hazard of 67 counties in the state.1
- 21 hurricanes passed within 30 miles of the county since 1851 (5 of them at Category 3 or stronger while nearby); counting tropical storms, 43 storms in all.2
- Strongest storm on record nearby: Michael (2018), at Category 5 strength (about 160 mph sustained) as it passed.2
- Most recent hurricanes nearby: Michael (2018), Category 5, Earl (1998), Category 1 and Kate (1985), Category 2.2
- 20 federal disaster declarations for hurricanes have included the county.3
What it means for a buyer or owner
In Washington County, hurricane wind and storm surge tend to arrive together. Wind is the part every property shares, so the roof and openings matter as much as the flood zone.
Ask for the roof's age and permit, any shutters or impact-rated windows, and a wind mitigation report.
In your report: the Storm history & wind sheet · Guide: Hurricanes, roofs and insurance
- 2
Inland flooding
Relatively LowThe local numbers
- FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Washington County "Relatively Low" (score 35.7 of 100, compared with every U.S. county).1
- Expected damage to buildings: about $3.7 million a year, the 51st-highest expected building loss from this hazard of 67 counties in the state.1
- FEMA's index maps about 19 square miles of the county inside the 1%-annual-chance floodplain it uses for inland flooding.1
- 31 inland flood events in FEMA's record, about 1.1 a year.1
- 4 federal disaster declarations for flooding.3
What it means for a buyer or owner
Beyond the roughly 19 square miles of mapped floodplain in Washington County, rain-driven flooding follows rivers, lakes, wetlands and canals, and it doesn't stop at the mapped lines: FEMA says more than 20% of flood insurance claims come from outside high-risk areas.
Ask whether the home has flooded or had a flood claim, and look at the lot's elevation in the report.
In your report: the Flood & hazard sheet · Guide: How to read a Florida flood zone
- 3
Tornadoes
Relatively ModerateThe local numbers
- FEMA rates tornado risk in Washington County "Relatively Moderate" (score 68.9 of 100, compared with every U.S. county).1
- Expected damage to buildings: about $451,000 a year, the 44th-highest expected building loss from this hazard of 67 counties in the state.1
- 27 tornadoes recorded in the county in FEMA's index (NOAA Storm Prediction Center records), about 0.5 a year.1
What it means for a buyer or owner
With roughly 0.5 tornadoes a year on record, Washington County sees mostly brief, narrow touchdowns, often spun up by tropical systems and spring squall lines, so damage is very local. The same roof-to-wall connections that resist hurricane wind help here.
Check the roof covering, any hurricane straps or clips, and the insurer's windstorm deductible.
In your report: the Hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) sheet
- 4
Wildfire
Very LowThe local numbers
- FEMA rates wildfire risk in Washington County "Very Low" (score 60.3 of 100, compared with every U.S. county).1
- Expected damage to buildings: about $62,000 a year, the 64th-highest expected building loss from this hazard of 67 counties in the state.1
- FEMA's wildfire model gives an average yearly burn likelihood of about 0.13% for exposed land here.1
- 12.2% of the county's building value is in areas FEMA treats as exposed to wildfire.1
- 4 federal fire declarations (including fire-management grants) have covered the county.3
What it means for a buyer or owner
12.2% of the building value in Washington County is near burnable land; risk is highest where homes back onto pine flatwoods, scrub, prairie or other wild land, especially in the dry late-winter and spring months.
Look at the vegetation around the lot, keep a clear zone around the house, and check for burn bans and prescribed-burn areas nearby.
In your report: the Hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) sheet
Rules that apply in every Florida county, from the building code and wind-mitigation discounts to flood insurance, seller flood disclosure and sinkhole coverage: Florida rules for buyers and owners.
Hurricanes near Washington County
21 hurricanes have come within 30 miles of Washington County since 1851; the busiest decade was the 1890s, with 3. The 12 most recent are listed, with the strength NOAA recorded as each passed.2
| Year | Storm | Strength nearby | Closest approach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Michael | Category 5 | 15 mi | |
| 1998 | Earl | Category 1 | 10 mi | |
| 1985 | Kate | Category 2 | 27 mi | |
| 1975 | Eloise | Category 3 | 19 mi | |
| 1972 | Agnes | Category 1 | 11 mi | |
| 1956 | Flossy | Category 1 | inside the county | |
| 1953 | Florence | Category 1 | 4 mi | |
| 1939 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 16 mi | |
| 1929 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 5 mi | |
| 1917 | Unnamed | Category 2 | 13 mi | |
| 1915 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 4 mi | |
| 1903 | Unnamed | Category 1 | inside the county |
Federal disaster declarations
40 federal declarations have included Washington County since 1975, 24 of them major disasters. By type: 20 hurricane, 7 severe storm, 4 fire, 4 flood, 3 tropical storm and 2 biological.3
Most recent
- 2024, Hurricane Helene (major disaster)
- 2024, Tropical Storm Helene (emergency)
- 2024, Hurricane Debby (major disaster)
- 2024, Tropical Storm Debby (emergency)
- 2022, Hurricane Nicole (major disaster)
- 2022, Hurricane Ian (major disaster)
All FEMA hazards for Washington County
Every hazard FEMA scores here, costliest for buildings first.1
| Hazard | FEMA risk rating | Risk score (0-100) | Expected building loss a year | Rank in the state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricanes | Relatively Moderate | 92.5 | $10.3 million | 41 of 67 |
| Inland flooding | Relatively Low | 35.7 | $3.7 million | 51 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | Relatively Moderate | 68.9 | $451,000 | 44 of 67 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 60.3 | $62,000 | 64 of 67 |
| Earthquakes | Very Low | 33.5 | $58,000 | 42 of 67 |
| Strong wind | Relatively Low | 19.8 | $36,000 | 54 of 67 |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 65.6 | $14,000 | 53 of 67 |
| Hail | Very Low | 7.0 | $3,000 | 51 of 67 |
| Winter weather | Very Low | 7.8 | $2,000 | 18 of 67 |
| Cold waves | Relatively Low | 37.2 | $2,000 | 62 of 67 |
| Coastal flooding and storm surge | Very Low | 22.4 | $590 | 45 of 67 |
| Landslides | Very Low | 24.4 | $141 | 39 of 67 |
| Heat waves | Relatively Low | 49.9 | $18 | 47 of 67 |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 35.9 | $0 | n/a |
Local property economy
Washington County had about 26,503 residents in 2024. Its largest groups of self-employed businesses are administrative and support and waste management (428), construction (337) and other services (except public administration) (306). The table counts businesses with no employees, the sole proprietors behind much of the local real estate and building trade.4
| Businesses with no employees | Washington | Per 1,000 residents | Florida per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All self-employed businesses | 2,094 | 79.0 | 146.6 |
| Real estate, rental and leasing | 142 | 5.4 | 15.4 |
| Real estate (agents, brokers, landlords, managers) | 131 | 4.9 | 14.8 |
| Construction | 337 | 12.7 | 14.5 |
| Residential building construction | 88 | 3.3 | 4.7 |
Area profile
Census figures for Washington County next to Florida and the U.S. (ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; ± is the margin of error). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (opens in a new tab).
| Measure | Washington County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,529 | 22,416,077 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $58,210 ±$6,699 | $74,568 | $80,734 |
| Per-capita income | $27,434 ±$1,164 | $42,609 | $44,673 |
| People below the poverty level | 17.3% ±3.4% | 12.6% | 12.5% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 11.5% ±1.6% | 34.1% | 35.7% |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $171,000 ±$13,730 | $359,000 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $888 ±$94 | $1,669 | $1,413 |
| Homes that are owner-occupied | 80.0% ±2.8% | 67.6% | 65.2% |
| Housing units vacant | 15.9% ±2.2% | 14.7% | 10.1% |
| Median year built | 1990 ±3 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Median age | 41.7 ±0.4 | 42.6 | 38.9 |
| Average household size | 2.5 ±0.1 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Mean travel time to work (minutes) | 36.1 ±3.3 | 28 | 26.4 |
Race and Hispanic origin (Census table B03002)
| Group | Washington County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not Hispanic or Latino: White alone | 75.9% | 50.4% | 57.4% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Black or African American alone | 13.4% | 14.6% | 11.9% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Asian alone | 0.6% | 2.9% | 5.9% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Some other race alone | 0.1% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Two or more races | 5.4% | 3.8% | 4.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 4.0% | 27.4% | 19.3% |
These figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau. OnlineRecords.US doesn't rate, rank or recommend areas by who lives there, and none of these figures are used in any ranking on this page. This product uses Census Bureau data but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Official offices for Washington County property records
The official word on any Washington County parcel.5
Property appraiser
- Washington County Property Appraiser (opens in a new tab) Ownership, values, exemptions and parcel maps.
Clerk / official records
- Washington County Clerk of Court and Comptroller (opens in a new tab) Recorder of deeds, mortgages, liens and lis pendens.
- Official records search (opens in a new tab)
Tax collector
- Washington County Tax Collector (opens in a new tab) Current and delinquent property tax bills.
Building department
- Washington County Building Department (opens in a new tab) Online permit search.
What our free report covers in Washington County
Statewide data works for every Washington County address: (verified on test reports ). Parcel, owner and legal description, assessed and just values, FEMA flood zone and ground elevation, evacuation zone and FEMA hazard ratings, storm history and estimated wind, storm surge and high-water marks, earthquakes, faults and sinkhole reports, environmental sites nearby and condo and HOA records link to the official source for now. For the county's own records, the report links to each office's search; none is automated and verified here yet unless marked.6
| County records | Status | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded deeds, mortgages and liens (clerk) | Link to the official source | Official records search (opens in a new tab) |
| Property tax bill (tax collector) | Link to the official source | Washington County Tax Collector (opens in a new tab) |
| Building permits | Link to the official source | Link-out to Washington County Building Department (iWorQ). Washington County Building Department (opens in a new tab) |
Neighboring counties
Washington County borders Bay County, Holmes County, Jackson County and Walton County. On hurricanes, Washington County ranks 4th of 5 among itself and its neighbors; Bay County is highest.7
| County | Costliest hazard for buildings | Overall FEMA rating | Expected building loss a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay County | Hurricanes | Relatively Moderate | $133.7 million |
| Holmes County | Hurricanes | Relatively Low | $11.2 million |
| Jackson County | Hurricanes | Relatively Low | $19.8 million |
| Walton County | Hurricanes | Relatively Moderate | $58.5 million |
Sources of information
- FEMA National Risk Index (county level) (opens in a new tab). release: December 2025; retrieved 2026-10-05.
- NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic) (opens in a new tab). storms through 2025; track within 30 miles of the county boundary while at tropical-storm strength or stronger; landfall points within 6 miles assigned to the nearest county; retrieved 2026-10-05.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (opens in a new tab). retrieved 2026-10-05.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Nonemployer Statistics and Vintage 2024 population estimates (opens in a new tab). retrieved 2026-10-05.
- onlinerecords.us county registry (official office links). retrieved 2026-10-05.
- onlinerecords.us coverage checks on test reports. retrieved 2026-10-05.
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file (2024) (opens in a new tab). retrieved 2026-10-05.
Figures describe the county as a whole, not any one property. A free report shows the parcel's own flood zone, elevation, storm history and records.