Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Dania Beach faces more hazard damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dania Beach gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #352 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (48%), then river and rain flooding (45%). Flood insurance has paid 488 claims here since 1981.
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 Dania Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Dania 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
Coastal 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 Dania Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dania Beach, and Dania Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 6%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #352 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Dania Beach’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, Dania Beach has more expected damage per building than 55% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.9M a year in losses across Dania Beach: $10.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Dania Beach flood? Yes: 488 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dania Beach, from FEMA’s records: 29.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The April Florida Flooding253 claims · $31.6M
- The June South Florida Flooding25 claims · $1.4M
- Hurricane Eta18 claims · $576K
Dania Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Broward County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Dania Beach
Disasters that paid out in Dania Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Dania Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton1 households applied for aid$209K to the City of Dania Beach for repairs25 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding254 households applied for aid$672K aid approved$130K to the City of Dania Beach for repairs269 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$25K to the City of Dania Beach for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Irma2,494 households applied for aid$847K aid approved$2.2M to the City of Dania Beach for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $117K
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay$21K to the City of Dania Beach for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Wilma579 households applied for aid$348K aid approved$3.2M to the City of Dania Beach for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $40K
Show all 12
- 2005Tropical Storm Rita$2K to the City of Dania Beach for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina$824K to the City of Dania Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne$34K to the City of Dania Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances14 households applied for aid$23K aid approved$206K to the City of Dania Beach for repairs
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$24K to the City of Dania Beach for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $55K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations$16K to the City of Dania Beach for repairs
Broward County has had 32 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Broward County, 1999–1999.
Old photos of Dania Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dania Beach archive →Dania Beach and its neighbors
Dania Beach has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dania Beach | C−more damage than 82% | hurricanes | 488 |
| Hollywood | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 2,470 |
| Fort Lauderdale | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3,894 |
| Davie | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 589 |
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 Dania 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Dania Beach 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 Dania Beach
Is Dania Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dania Beach has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #352 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (48%) and river and rain flooding (45%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Dania Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 488 claims in Dania Beach since 1981, $36.5M in all, or 29.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 67 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from April Florida Flooding (253).
Is Dania 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 Broward County, 76% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 19.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Dania Beach?
Dania Beach 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 Dania Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Dania Beach, Hurricane Wilma (2005): 579 households applied for aid, $348K approved, and $3.2M to the City of Dania Beach for repairs. By flood claims, April Florida Flooding: 253 paid, $31.6M.
Is Dania Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Dania Beach’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dania Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dania 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.