Photo: David Wilson · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Cape Coral faces more hazard damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, and 4,381 flood claims have been paid there
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cape Coral gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #440 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (73%), then river and rain flooding (23%). Flood insurance has paid 4,381 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 Cape Coral’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Cape Coral 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 Coral’s grade
Hurricanes are 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cape Coral, and Cape Coral’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #440 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cape Coral’s residents live in 45 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 Coral has more expected damage per building than 69% of Florida towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Cape Coral has higher expected damage per building than 83% (#334 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $79.7M, is the 152th largest of those 400.
Does Cape Coral flood? Yes: 4,381 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cape Coral, from FEMA’s records: 43.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ian4,178 claims · $450M
- Hurricane Charley31 claims · $298K
- Hurricane Irma26 claims · $577K
Cape Coral is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Lee County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cape Coral
Disasters that paid out in Cape Coral itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cape Coral), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton14,581 households applied for aid$2.3M aid approved$2.4M to the City of Cape Coral for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $719K
- 2024Hurricane Helene2,476 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved16 flood claims paid for it, $1.5M
- 2022Hurricane Ian59,215 households applied for aid$63.1M aid approved$91.9M to the City of Cape Coral for repairs4,178 flood claims paid for it, $450M
- 2017Hurricane Irma26,907 households applied for aid$6.7M aid approved$15.6M to the City of Cape Coral for repairs26 flood claims paid for it, $577K
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby$2K to the City of Cape Coral for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay6 households applied for aid$950 aid approved$175K to the City of Cape Coral for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2005Hurricane Wilma990 households applied for aid$352K aid approved$2.6M to the City of Cape Coral for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Hurricane Ivan79 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances516 households applied for aid$370K aid approved$143K to the City of Cape Coral for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley10,523 households applied for aid$4.3M aid approved$10.4M to the City of Cape Coral for repairs
- 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding Associated with Tropical Storm Gabrielle$10K to the City of Cape Coral for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Tropical Storm Irene - Florida$36K to the City of Cape Coral for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
Lee County has had 30 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 Lee County, 1999–2017.
Old photos of Cape Coral after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cape Coral archive →Cape Coral and its neighbors
Cape Coral 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Myers | Dmore damage than 89% | hurricanes | 711 |
| Burnt Store Marina | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 9 |
| Cape Coral | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 4,381 |
| Lochmoor Waterway Estates | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 707 |
| North Fort Myers | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 1,786 |
| Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores | — | 127 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 Cape Coral 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 Coral 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 Cape Coral
Is Cape Coral at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cape Coral has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #440 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (73%) and river and rain flooding (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cape Coral flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4,381 claims in Cape Coral since 1979, $455M in all, or 43.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 26 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ian (4,178).
Is Cape Coral 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 Lee County, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 24.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cape Coral?
Cape Coral 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 Cape Coral?
By FEMA money that reached Cape Coral, Hurricane Ian (2022): 59,215 households applied for aid, $63.1M approved, and $91.9M to the City of Cape Coral for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ian: 4,178 paid, $450M.
Is Cape Coral at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Cape Coral’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cape Coral.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cape Coral’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.