Butler Beach’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Butler Beach gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #51 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (38%), then hurricanes (31%). Flood insurance has paid 914 claims here since 1990.
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 Butler Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Butler Beach faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Coastal flooding
Tornadoes
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 Butler Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 38% of the building damage FEMA expects in Butler Beach, and Butler Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 24%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #51 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Butler Beach’s residents live in 3 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, Butler Beach has less expected damage per building than 92% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Butler Beach: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Butler Beach flood? Yes: 914 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Butler Beach, from FEMA’s records: 191.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Matthew566 claims · $29.1M
- Hurricane Irma137 claims · $5.0M
- Hurricane Ian87 claims · $3.6M
Butler Beach isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Johns County.The storms Butler Beach remembers
None of the 22 disasters declared for St. Johns County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Butler Beach itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 2016574 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Matthew, declared for St. Johns County
- 2017147 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Irma, declared for St. Johns County
- 2022124 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Nicole, declared for St. Johns County
St. Johns County has had 22 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.
Old photos of Butler Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Butler Beach archive →Butler Beach and its neighbors
Butler Beach is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Augustine Beach | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 161 |
| Butler Beach | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 914 |
| Crescent Beach | — | 809 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 Butler 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Butler Beach
Is Butler Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Butler Beach has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #51 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (38%) and hurricanes (31%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Butler Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 914 claims in Butler Beach since 1990, $39.2M in all, or 191.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Matthew (566).
Is Butler 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 St. Johns County, 23.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Butler Beach?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Butler Beach’s 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 Butler Beach?
By flood claims, Hurricane Matthew: 566 paid, $29.1M.
Is Butler Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (38%), and Butler Beach’s rate for it is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Butler Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Butler 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.