North of Tampa Bay: how Pasco, Hernando and Citrus took Helene, Idalia and Hermine

Helene, 2024: the deepest water on this coast

NHC analyzed 6 to 9 ft of storm surge inundation above ground from south of Cedar Key to the Anclote River, the stretch that takes in the Citrus, Hernando and Pasco shorelines. USGS sensors at the mouth of the Crystal River and on Pine Island in Hernando County measured 9.0 ft and 8.84 ft above mean higher high water, and a protected sensor in Pasco County recorded 7.60 ft.

The county-by-county damage in NHC's report is severe:

• Citrus: surge flooded at least 300 homes in Crystal River and Homosassa Springs with water up to 5 ft deep inside, and crews rescued 85 people and pets.
• Hernando: at least 500 homes suffered major damage, mostly from surge along the barrier islands and immediate coast, and 18 people were rescued.
• Pasco: first responders made 200 high water rescues, and at least 9,900 structures were damaged, most of them by surge in coastal parts of the county.

Idalia, 2023

Idalia's center came ashore far to the north, yet NHC recorded 5 to 7 ft of inundation between the Suwannee River and Chassahowitzka, with USGS streamgages on the Crystal River and the Chassahowitzka River reaching 7.01 ft and 6.06 ft above MHHW. From Chassahowitzka south, including the Hernando and Pasco coasts, inundation ran 3 to 5 ft. NOAA's Citrus County entry adds a 64 mph gust near Crystal River.

Hermine, 2016: surge to the north, river flooding in Pasco

NOAA's Storm Events Database puts Hermine's surge at 4 to 6 ft above normal high tide in both Citrus and Hernando counties. In Citrus County it estimated $102 million in damage, with 743 properties lightly damaged and 531 heavily, including 2 ft of water on U.S. 19 in Crystal River. In Hernando County the tide stranded about 975 households and left 65 properties with major damage.

In Pasco County, NOAA's largest Hermine entry is river flooding: heavy rain pushed the Anclote River at Elfers to a crest of 25.08 ft, impacting 2,672 properties, with 305 homes heavily damaged and 7 destroyed.

Elsa and Milton

Elsa's 2021 surge was modest, but NHC says its highest water levels, 2 to 3 ft, occurred along the Hernando and Citrus coasts, among others. Milton in 2024 was a rain and wind event here: NOAA records up to 14.94 inches of rain near Dade City in Pasco County and a 76 mph gust at Brooksville in Hernando County.

Tornadoes and straight-line wind

NOAA's Storm Events Database records 12 tornadoes in Pasco County, 3 in Hernando County and 3 in Citrus County from 2016 through 2025. In March 2016, straight-line winds in Dade City ripped the roof off a mobile home and damaged 38 others.

FEMA declarations

Pasco, Hernando and Citrus were all included in FEMA's major disaster declarations for Hermine (DR-4280), Idalia (DR-4734), Helene (DR-4828) and Milton (DR-4834).

Before a re-roof: license and wind-mitigation paperwork

Registration for a registered (RC) roofer is tied to the counties, municipalities or development districts where it met local licensing rules, so a Pasco job and a Citrus job can call for different answers. A certified (CC) roofer is licensed statewide. Confirm which applies on DBPR's licensee search.

After the new roof goes on, think about the state's uniform mitigation verification inspection form, which insurers use to verify wind-resistant features. Its roof questions cover the covering's permit date or product approval, roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections and secondary water resistance, and the form is valid for up to five years only if no material changes are made to the structure. Our license check guide explains the form in more detail.

The directory's full list of Florida roofing contractors covers these counties.

Frequently asked questions

How deep was Helene's surge in Pasco and Hernando counties?

NHC puts inundation at 6 to 9 ft above ground from south of Cedar Key to the Anclote River. A USGS sensor on Pine Island in Hernando County measured 8.84 ft above MHHW, and one in Pasco County 7.60 ft.

Did Hermine damage many homes in Citrus and Hernando counties?

Yes. NOAA's database lists 531 Citrus County properties with major damage and 65 in Hernando County from Hermine's 4 to 6 ft surge.

Does a new roof affect my wind-mitigation inspection?

It can. The OIR-B1-1802 form asks about the roof covering, deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections and secondary water resistance, and it stays valid for up to five years only if the structure has no material changes. Ask your insurer what documentation it wants after the job.

Where can I follow storms and find roofers here?

The National Roofing Directory's Florida storm center carries live alerts, and its Florida licensing page summarizes the license rules.