Photo: Connor J Williams · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Cocoa than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cocoa gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #498 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (76%), then river and rain flooding (20%). Flood insurance has paid 62 claims here since 1986.
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’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Cocoa 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’s grade
Hurricanes are 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cocoa, and Cocoa’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 20% (lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts).
D #498 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cocoa’s residents live in 11 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 has more expected damage per building than 78% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.9M a year in losses across Cocoa: $10.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cocoa flood? Sometimes: 62 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cocoa, from FEMA’s records: 6.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Wilma15 claims · $651K
- Tropical Storm Fay12 claims · $199K
- Hurricane Irma11 claims · $415K
Cocoa is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Brevard County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cocoa
Disasters that paid out in Cocoa itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cocoa), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton2,546 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved$677K to the City of Cocoa for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $144K
- 2022Hurricane Nicole450 households applied for aid$365K aid approved$127K to the City of Cocoa for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian2,562 households applied for aid$2.4M aid approved$606K to the City of Cocoa for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $241K
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$140K to the City of Cocoa for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma9,863 households applied for aid$4.7M aid approved$3.3M to the City of Cocoa for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $415K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew899 households applied for aid$263K aid approved$378K to the City of Cocoa for repairs
Show all 14
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay768 households applied for aid$942K aid approved$78K to the City of Cocoa for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $199K
- 2005Hurricane Wilma749 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$97K to the City of Cocoa for repairs15 flood claims paid for it, $651K
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne3,250 households applied for aid$3.2M aid approved$391K to the City of Cocoa for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan97 households applied for aid$21K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances5,254 households applied for aid$4.9M aid approved$805K to the City of Cocoa for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley596 households applied for aid$458K aid approved$72K to the City of Cocoa for repairs
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$49K to the City of Cocoa for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $32K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$85K to the City of Cocoa 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 after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cocoa archive →Cocoa and its neighbors
Cocoa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merritt Island | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 213 |
| Sharpes | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 5 |
| Cocoa | Dmore damage than 92% | hurricanes | 62 |
| Cocoa West | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 7 |
| Rockledge | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 40 |
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 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 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
Is Cocoa at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cocoa has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #498 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (76%) and river and rain flooding (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cocoa flood?
Flood insurance has paid 62 claims in Cocoa since 1986, $1.9M in all, or 6.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 13 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Wilma (15).
Is Cocoa 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?
Cocoa 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?
By FEMA money that reached Cocoa, Hurricane Irma (2017): 9,863 households applied for aid, $4.7M approved, and $3.3M to the City of Cocoa for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Wilma: 15 paid, $651K.
Is Cocoa at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Cocoa’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cocoa.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cocoa’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.