Photo: Arjun Sharma · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Aventura as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Aventura gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #41 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (72%), then river and rain flooding (21%). Flood insurance has paid 236 claims here since 1999.
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 Aventura’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Aventura faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
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 Aventura’s grade
Hurricanes are 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Aventura, and Aventura’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #41 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Aventura’s residents live in 12 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, Aventura has less expected damage per building than 94% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.8M a year in losses across Aventura: $6.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Aventura flood? Yes: 236 flood claims since 1999
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Aventura, from FEMA’s records: 9.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The June South Florida Flooding88 claims · $9.2M
- Hurricane Irma14 claims · $583K
- The April Florida Flooding2 claims · $12K
Aventura is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Dade County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Aventura
Disasters that paid out in Aventura itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Aventura), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Hurricane Irma2,225 households applied for aid$698K aid approved$1.4M to the City of Aventura for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $583K
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay$32K to the City of Aventura for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $13K
- 2005Hurricane Wilma659 households applied for aid$138K aid approved$1.3M to the City of Aventura for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina$231K to the City of Aventura for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances8 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$130K to the City of Aventura for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$60K to the City of Aventura for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$66K to the City of Aventura for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $2K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations$16K to the City of Aventura for repairs
Its 2 counties have had 32 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 its 2 counties, 1999–2001.
Old photos of Aventura after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Aventura archive →Aventura and its neighbors
Aventura has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aventura | B−more damage than 50% | hurricanes | 236 |
| Sunny Isles Beach | B−more damage than 55% | hurricanes | 97 |
| Hallandale Beach | C+more damage than 58% | hurricanes | 1,374 |
| North Miami Beach | Cmore damage than 70% | hurricanes | 228 |
| Ojus | C−more damage than 76% | hurricanes | 789 |
| Golden Beach | C−more damage than 77% | hurricanes | 50 |
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 Aventura faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Aventura residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Aventura
Is Aventura at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Aventura has higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #41 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (72%) and river and rain flooding (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Aventura flood?
Flood insurance has paid 236 claims in Aventura since 1999, $17.3M in all, or 9.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 39 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from June South Florida Flooding (88).
Is Aventura 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 Dade County, 74% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 33.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Aventura?
Aventura is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Aventura?
By FEMA money that reached Aventura, Hurricane Irma (2017): 2,225 households applied for aid, $698K approved, and $1.4M to the City of Aventura for repairs. By flood claims, June South Florida Flooding: 88 paid, $9.2M.
Is Aventura at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Aventura’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Aventura.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Aventura’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.