Photo: Connor J Williams · CC BY 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Cocoa Beach than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cocoa Beach gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #449 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (82%), then river and rain flooding (12%). Flood insurance has paid 103 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 Cocoa Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Cocoa 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 Cocoa Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cocoa Beach, and Cocoa Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #449 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cocoa Beach’s residents live in 5 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, Cocoa Beach has more expected damage per building than 70% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.8M a year in losses across Cocoa Beach: $8.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cocoa Beach flood? Yes: 103 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cocoa Beach, from FEMA’s records: 11.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Fay22 claims · $141K
- Hurricane Irma18 claims · $875K
- Hurricane Frances13 claims · $133K
Cocoa Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Brevard County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cocoa Beach
Disasters that paid out in Cocoa Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cocoa Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton249 households applied for aid$118K aid approved$293K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2022Hurricane Nicole38 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$79K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian181 households applied for aid$46K aid approved$192K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$138K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma1,640 households applied for aid$486K aid approved$718K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs18 flood claims paid for it, $875K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew181 households applied for aid$31K aid approved$528K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $40K
Show all 13
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay46 households applied for aid$21K aid approved$108K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs22 flood claims paid for it, $141K
- 2005Hurricane Wilma14 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$44K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne681 households applied for aid$662K aid approved$407K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $55K
- 2004Hurricane Frances1,335 households applied for aid$799K aid approved$514K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs13 flood claims paid for it, $133K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley50 households applied for aid$33K aid approved$4K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$40K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $29K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$29K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs
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 Cocoa Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cocoa Beach archive →Cocoa Beach and its neighbors
Cocoa Beach is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Canaveral | Dmore damage than 89% | hurricanes | 66 |
| Cocoa Beach | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 103 |
| Merritt Island | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 213 |
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 Cocoa 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.
- Cocoa Beach residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Cocoa Beach
Is Cocoa Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cocoa Beach has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #449 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (82%) and river and rain flooding (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cocoa Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 103 claims in Cocoa Beach since 1979, $1.9M in all, or 11.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Fay (22).
Is Cocoa 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 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 Cocoa Beach?
Cocoa Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% 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 Cocoa Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Cocoa Beach, Hurricane Frances (2004): 1,335 households applied for aid, $799K approved, and $514K to the City of Cocoa Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Fay: 22 paid, $141K.
Is Cocoa Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Cocoa Beach’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cocoa Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cocoa 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.