Photo: Sgerbic · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Melbourne faces more hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Melbourne gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (45%), then ice storms (34%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Melbourne faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Ice storms
Earthquakes
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Melbourne’s grade
River and rain flooding is 45% of the building damage FEMA expects in Melbourne, and Melbourne’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 34%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Melbourne’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Melbourne: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Melbourne flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Melbourne. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Melbourne isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Izard County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Melbourne
Disasters that paid out in Melbourne itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Melbourne), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms and Tornadoes19 households applied for aid$197K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$7K to the City of Melbourne for repairs
- 2014Severe Storms,tornadoes, and Flooding$11K to the City of Melbourne for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding$3K to the City of Melbourne for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$25K to the City of Melbourne for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$118K to the City of Melbourne for repairs
Show all 9
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding19 households applied for aid$76K aid approved$7K to the City of Melbourne for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding32 households applied for aid$114K aid approved
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$4K to the City of Melbourne for repairs
Izard County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Melbourne after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Melbourne archive →Get ready for what Melbourne faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
- Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
- Keep sand or salt by the door.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Melbourne
Is Melbourne at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Melbourne has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (45%) and ice storms (34%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Melbourne in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Izard County, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Melbourne?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Melbourne’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Melbourne?
By FEMA money that reached Melbourne, Severe Storms and Tornadoes (2025): 19 households applied for aid, $197K approved.
Is Melbourne at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (45%), and Melbourne’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Melbourne.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Melbourne’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.