Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Boynton Beach’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boynton Beach gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #174 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (64%), then river and rain flooding (31%). Flood insurance has paid 257 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 Boynton Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Boynton Beach 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 Boynton Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Boynton Beach, and Boynton Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C #174 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Boynton Beach’s residents live in 27 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, Boynton Beach has less expected damage per building than 73% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $19.8M a year in losses across Boynton Beach: $17.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Boynton Beach flood? Yes: 257 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Boynton Beach, from FEMA’s records: 6.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene60 claims · $190K
- Hurricane Frances26 claims · $108K
- Tropical Storm Mitch8 claims · $100K
Boynton Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 4) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Palm Beach County.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Boynton Beach
Disasters that paid out in Boynton Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Boynton Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton800 households applied for aid$201K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Nicole$231K to the City of Boynton Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian2,684 households applied for aid$371K aid approved
- 2020Hurricane Isaias$18K to the City of Boynton Beach for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$52K to the City of Boynton Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Irma17,387 households applied for aid$5.9M aid approved$1.4M to the City of Boynton Beach for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $117K
Show all 15
- 2016Hurricane Matthew$253K to the City of Boynton Beach for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$122K to the City of Boynton Beach for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $62K
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay1 households applied for aid$56K to the City of Boynton Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Wilma12,073 households applied for aid$6.1M aid approved$5.2M to the City of Boynton Beach for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $25K
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne3,790 households applied for aid$3.3M aid approved$532K to the City of Boynton Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan103 households applied for aid$853 aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances6,583 households applied for aid$5.0M aid approved$1.3M to the City of Boynton Beach for repairs26 flood claims paid for it, $108K
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$79K to the City of Boynton Beach for repairs60 flood claims paid for it, $190K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$104K to the City of Boynton Beach 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 Boynton Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Boynton Beach archive →Boynton Beach and its neighbors
Boynton Beach is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Castle | Cmore damage than 69% | hurricanes | 16 |
| Boynton Beach | Cmore damage than 70% | hurricanes | 257 |
| Delray Beach | Cmore damage than 73% | hurricanes | 337 |
| Hypoluxo | C−more damage than 79% | hurricanes | 5 |
| Ocean Ridge | C−more damage than 80% | hurricanes | 92 |
| Gulf Stream | — | 785 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Manalapan | — | 353 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Golf | — | 265 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Boynton 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.
- 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.
- Boynton Beach residents get 30% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Boynton Beach
Is Boynton Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boynton Beach has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #174 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (64%) and river and rain flooding (31%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Boynton Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 257 claims in Boynton Beach since 1979, $1.8M in all, or 6.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 14 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (60).
Is Boynton 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 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 Boynton Beach?
Boynton Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 4), which takes 30% 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 Boynton Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Boynton Beach, Hurricane Wilma (2005): 12,073 households applied for aid, $6.1M approved, and $5.2M to the City of Boynton Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 60 paid, $190K.
Is Boynton Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Boynton Beach’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Boynton Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Boynton 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.