Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Boca Raton faces more hazard damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boca Raton gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #363 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (53%), then river and rain flooding (44%). Flood insurance has paid 278 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 Boca Raton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Boca Raton 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 Boca Raton’s grade
Hurricanes are 53% of the building damage FEMA expects in Boca Raton, and Boca Raton’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #363 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Boca Raton’s residents live in 33 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, Boca Raton has more expected damage per building than 57% of Florida towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Boca Raton has higher expected damage per building than 76% (#305 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $53.0M, is the 229th largest of those 400.
Does Boca Raton flood? Yes: 278 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Boca Raton, from FEMA’s records: 5.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene22 claims · $89K
- Hurricane Irma12 claims · $1.1M
- Hurricane Frances10 claims · $102K
Boca Raton is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Palm Beach County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Boca Raton
Disasters that paid out in Boca Raton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Boca Raton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton488 households applied for aid$89K aid approved$64K to the City of Boca Raton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2022Hurricane Nicole$36K to the City of Boca Raton for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian1,811 households applied for aid$112K aid approved$46K to the City of Boca Raton for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$373K to the City of Boca Raton for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Irma15,332 households applied for aid$4.1M aid approved$4.6M to the City of Boca Raton for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $1.1M
- 2016Hurricane Matthew$171K to the City of Boca Raton for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
Show all 13
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay$10K to the City of Boca Raton for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Wilma21,390 households applied for aid$8.4M aid approved$16.2M to the City of Boca Raton for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $95K
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne1,507 households applied for aid$613K aid approved$1.9M to the City of Boca Raton for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $29K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan59 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances3,696 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$7.5M to the City of Boca Raton for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $102K
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$281K to the City of Boca Raton for repairs22 flood claims paid for it, $89K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$105K to the City of Boca Raton for repairs
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.
Old photos of Boca Raton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Boca Raton archive →Boca Raton and its neighbors
Boca Raton is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delray Beach | Cmore damage than 73% | hurricanes | 337 |
| Deerfield Beach | C−more damage than 81% | hurricanes | 138 |
| Boca Raton | C−more damage than 83% | hurricanes | 278 |
| Highland Beach | Dmore damage than 86% | hurricanes | 11 |
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 Boca Raton 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.
- Boca Raton 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 Boca Raton
Is Boca Raton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boca Raton has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #363 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (53%) and river and rain flooding (44%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Boca Raton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 278 claims in Boca Raton since 1979, $11.2M in all, or 5.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 17 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (22).
Is Boca Raton 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 Boca Raton?
Boca Raton 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 Boca Raton?
By FEMA money that reached Boca Raton, Hurricane Wilma (2005): 21,390 households applied for aid, $8.4M approved, and $16.2M to the City of Boca Raton for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 22 paid, $89K.
Is Boca Raton at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (53%), and Boca Raton’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Boca Raton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Boca Raton’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.