Photo: Connor J Williams · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Cape Canaveral than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cape Canaveral gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #436 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (84%), then river and rain flooding (12%). Flood insurance has paid 66 claims here since 1984.
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 Cape Canaveral’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Cape Canaveral 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 Cape Canaveral’s grade
Hurricanes are 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cape Canaveral, and Cape Canaveral’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #436 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cape Canaveral’s residents live in 6 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, Cape Canaveral has more expected damage per building than 68% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.2M a year in losses across Cape Canaveral: $5.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cape Canaveral flood? Sometimes: 66 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cape Canaveral, from FEMA’s records: 7.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Fay39 claims · $1.1M
- Hurricane Frances7 claims · $101K
- Hurricane Irma4 claims · $125K
Cape Canaveral is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Brevard County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cape Canaveral
Disasters that paid out in Cape Canaveral itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cape Canaveral), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton240 households applied for aid$143K aid approved$39K to the City of Cape Canaveral for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Nicole28 households applied for aid$39K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Ian197 households applied for aid$86K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$3K to the City of Cape Canaveral for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma1,373 households applied for aid$407K aid approved$91K to the City of Cape Canaveral for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $125K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew170 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$66K to the City of Cape Canaveral for repairs
Show all 13
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay130 households applied for aid$257K aid approved$49K to the City of Cape Canaveral for repairs39 flood claims paid for it, $1.1M
- 2005Hurricane Wilma13 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne388 households applied for aid$350K aid approved$86K to the City of Cape Canaveral for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $16K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan11 households applied for aid$870 aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances829 households applied for aid$599K aid approved$150K to the City of Cape Canaveral for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $101K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley36 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$4K to the City of Cape Canaveral for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$86K to the City of Cape Canaveral for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Brevard County has had 29 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 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Brevard County, 1999–2008.
Old photos of Cape Canaveral after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cape Canaveral archive →Cape Canaveral and its neighbors
Cape Canaveral has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Canaveral | Dmore damage than 89% | hurricanes | 66 |
| Cocoa Beach | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 103 |
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 Cape Canaveral 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.
- Cape Canaveral 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 Cape Canaveral
Is Cape Canaveral at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cape Canaveral has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #436 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (84%) and river and rain flooding (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cape Canaveral flood?
Flood insurance has paid 66 claims in Cape Canaveral since 1984, $1.4M in all, or 7.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Fay (39).
Is Cape Canaveral 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 Brevard County, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 11.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cape Canaveral?
Cape Canaveral 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 Cape Canaveral?
By FEMA money that reached Cape Canaveral, Hurricane Frances (2004): 829 households applied for aid, $599K approved, and $150K to the City of Cape Canaveral for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Fay: 39 paid, $1.1M.
Is Cape Canaveral at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Cape Canaveral’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cape Canaveral.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cape Canaveral’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.