FEMA puts Biscayne Gardens’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Biscayne Gardens gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #149 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (60%), then river and rain flooding (37%). Flood insurance has paid 386 claims here since 1980.
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 Biscayne Gardens’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Biscayne Gardens 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 Biscayne Gardens’ grade
Hurricanes are 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Biscayne Gardens, and Biscayne Gardens’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
C #149 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Biscayne Gardens’ residents live in 16 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, Biscayne Gardens has less expected damage per building than 77% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.9M a year in losses across Biscayne Gardens: $5.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Biscayne Gardens flood? Yes: 386 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Biscayne Gardens, from FEMA’s records: 32.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The June South Florida Flooding105 claims · $8.0M
- Hurricane Irene31 claims · $144K
- Hurricane Irma20 claims · $232K
Biscayne Gardens isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dade County.The storms Biscayne Gardens remembers
None of the 32 disasters declared for its 2 counties shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Biscayne Gardens itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 2000155 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Freeze, declared for its 2 counties
- 2024109 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Milton, declared for its 2 counties
- 199934 flood claims paidThe year of Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req, declared for its 2 counties
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 Biscayne Gardens after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Biscayne Gardens archive →Biscayne Gardens and its neighbors
Biscayne Gardens is 3rd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opa-locka | C+more damage than 64% | hurricanes | 183 |
| North Miami | Cmore damage than 67% | hurricanes | 767 |
| Biscayne Gardens | Cmore damage than 68% | hurricanes | 386 |
| North Miami Beach | Cmore damage than 70% | hurricanes | 228 |
| Miami Gardens | C−more damage than 79% | hurricanes | 144 |
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 Biscayne Gardens 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Biscayne Gardens
Is Biscayne Gardens at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Biscayne Gardens has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #149 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (60%) and river and rain flooding (37%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Biscayne Gardens flood?
Flood insurance has paid 386 claims in Biscayne Gardens since 1980, $11.1M in all, or 32.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from June South Florida Flooding (105).
Is Biscayne Gardens 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 Biscayne Gardens?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Biscayne Gardens’ 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 Biscayne Gardens?
By flood claims, June South Florida Flooding: 105 paid, $8.0M.
Is Biscayne Gardens at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Biscayne Gardens’ rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Biscayne Gardens.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Biscayne Gardens’ 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.