Photo: Excel23 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Atlantic Beach’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Atlantic Beach gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #10 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%), then hurricanes (37%). Flood insurance has paid 139 claims here since 1979.
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 stands out about Atlantic Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Atlantic Beach 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
Hurricanes
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 Atlantic Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in Atlantic Beach, and Atlantic Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B #10 of 638 in Florida; lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Atlantic Beach’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Atlantic Beach has less expected damage per building than 99% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Atlantic Beach: $3.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Atlantic Beach flood? Yes: 139 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Atlantic Beach, from FEMA’s records: 21.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irma8 claims · $180K
- Hurricane Matthew4 claims · $48K
- Tropical Storm Fay2 claims · $13K
Atlantic Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Duval County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Atlantic Beach
Disasters that paid out in Atlantic Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Atlantic Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton96 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2024Hurricane Helene76 households applied for aid$87K aid approved$120K to the City of Atlantic Beach for repairs
- 2023Hurricane Idalia$22K to the City of Atlantic Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Nicole$8K to the City of Atlantic Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian2 households applied for aid$700 aid approved$90K to the City of Atlantic Beach for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$53K to the City of Atlantic Beach for repairs
Show all 14
- 2017Hurricane Irma1,220 households applied for aid$330K aid approved$839K to the City of Atlantic Beach for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $180K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew124 households applied for aid$17K aid approved$347K to the City of Atlantic Beach for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $48K
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby11 households applied for aid$8K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $5K
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay20 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$139K to the City of Atlantic Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $13K
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne49 households applied for aid$30K aid approved$41K to the City of Atlantic Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances70 households applied for aid$45K aid approved$129K to the City of Atlantic Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $21K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley14 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$6K to the City of Atlantic Beach for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$32K to the City of Atlantic Beach for repairs
Duval County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Duval County, 1999–2000.
Old photos of Atlantic Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Atlantic Beach archive →Atlantic Beach and its neighbors
Atlantic Beach has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Beach | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 139 |
| Neptune Beach | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Jacksonville | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3,865 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Atlantic Beach 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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.
- Atlantic Beach residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Atlantic Beach
Is Atlantic Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Atlantic Beach has lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #10 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%) and hurricanes (37%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Atlantic Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 139 claims in Atlantic Beach since 1979, $2.0M in all, or 21.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irma (8).
Is Atlantic Beach 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 Duval County, 60% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 6.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Atlantic Beach?
Atlantic Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Atlantic Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Atlantic Beach, Hurricane Irma (2017): 1,220 households applied for aid, $330K approved, and $839K to the City of Atlantic Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irma: 8 paid, $180K.
Is Atlantic Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and Atlantic Beach’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Atlantic Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Atlantic Beach’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.