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CHazard risk
Natural hazards in Atlantis · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Atlantis faces more hazard damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Atlantis gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (64%), then river and rain flooding (33%). Flood insurance has paid 19 claims here since 1982.

Hurricanes 64%River and rain flooding 33%Tornadoes 2%

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

more than 70%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
C
in Florida · higher than 70% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
64% of expected building damage
Flood claims
19
paid since 1982 · $326K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
9
of 29 declared for Palm Beach County
By hazard

What Atlantis faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

64%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

River and rain flooding

33%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Lightning top 3% Strong wind Wildfire Cold waves top 4% Hail Earthquakes Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingWinter stormsIce stormsAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Atlantis’ grade

Hurricanes are 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Atlantis, and Atlantis’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 33% (lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Atlantis sits
Atlantis
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Atlantis’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes64%River and rain flooding33%Everything else2%

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Atlantis: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Atlantis covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Atlantis flood? Sometimes: 19 flood claims since 1982

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Atlantis, from FEMA’s records: 15.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1982: 1 claim1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 15 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 1 claim2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 1 claim2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198219992004
19822026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Irene14 claims · $302K
  • Hurricane Helene1 claim · $10K
  • Hurricane Frances1 claim · $2K
19
paid claims since 1982
$326K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$17K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Atlantis isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Palm Beach County.
Disasters

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Atlantis

Disasters that paid out in Atlantis itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Atlantis), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Hurricane Milton1 households applied for aid$6K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  2. 2019Hurricane Dorian$12K to the City of Atlantis for repairs
  3. 2017Hurricane Irma39 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$171K to the City of Atlantis for repairs
  4. 2016Hurricane Matthew$17K to the City of Atlantis for repairs
  5. 2005Hurricane Wilma59 households applied for aid$22K aid approved$538K to the City of Atlantis for repairs
  6. 2004Hurricane Jeanne22 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$123K to the City of Atlantis for repairs
Show all 9
  1. 2004Hurricane Frances26 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$240K to the City of Atlantis for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $2K
  2. 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$93K to the City of Atlantis for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $302K
  3. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$2K to the City of Atlantis for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in AtlantisPalm Beach County only

Palm Beach County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Palm Beach County, 1999–1999.

Were you here?

Old photos of Atlantis after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Atlantis archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Atlantis faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Atlantis

Is Atlantis at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Atlantis has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (64%) and river and rain flooding (33%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Atlantis flood?

Flood insurance has paid 19 claims in Atlantis since 1982, $326K in all, or 15.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (14).

Is Atlantis 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 Palm Beach County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 13.0% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Atlantis?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Atlantis’ 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 Atlantis?

By FEMA money that reached Atlantis, Hurricane Wilma (2005): 59 households applied for aid, $22K approved, and $538K to the City of Atlantis for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 14 paid, $302K.

Is Atlantis at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Atlantis’ rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Atlantis.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Atlantis’ 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.