Photo: Tamanoeconomico · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Davie faces more hazard damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, and 589 flood claims have been paid there
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Davie gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #422 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then hurricanes (36%). Flood insurance has paid 589 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 Davie’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Davie faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
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 Davie’s grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Davie, and Davie’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Hurricanes add 36%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D #422 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Davie’s residents live in 26 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, Davie has more expected damage per building than 66% of Florida towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Davie has higher expected damage per building than 82% (#328 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $48.4M, is the 255th largest of those 400.
Does Davie flood? Yes: 589 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Davie, from FEMA’s records: 14.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene245 claims · $1.4M
- Hurricane Eta51 claims · $829K
- Hurricane Wilma25 claims · $198K
Davie is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Broward County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Davie
Disasters that paid out in Davie itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Davie), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding277 households applied for aid$375K aid approved31 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$89K to the Town of Davie for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Irma12,887 households applied for aid$4.9M aid approved$10.5M to the Town of Davie for repairs22 flood claims paid for it, $538K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew$158K to the Town of Davie for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Wilma11,691 households applied for aid$10.5M aid approved$18.7M to the Town of Davie for repairs25 flood claims paid for it, $198K
- 2005Tropical Storm Rita$69K to the Town of Davie for repairs
Show all 11
- 2005Hurricane Katrina$1.3M to the Town of Davie for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne$159K to the Town of Davie for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances429 households applied for aid$481K aid approved$621K to the Town of Davie for repairs
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$160K to the Town of Davie for repairs245 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations$27K to the Town of Davie 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 Davie after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Davie archive →Davie and its neighbors
Davie is 10th of the 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pembroke Pines | C−more damage than 76% | hurricanes | 597 |
| Broadview Park | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Plantation | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 548 |
| Sunrise | C−more damage than 78% | hurricanes | 544 |
| Weston | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Dania Beach | C−more damage than 82% | hurricanes | 488 |
| Hollywood | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 2,470 |
| Southwest Ranches | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Fort Lauderdale | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3,894 |
| Davie | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 589 |
| Cooper City | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 230 |
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 Davie faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Davie residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Davie
Is Davie at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Davie has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #422 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and hurricanes (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Davie flood?
Flood insurance has paid 589 claims in Davie since 1979, $6.3M in all, or 14.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 33 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (245).
Is Davie 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 Davie?
Davie is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Davie?
By FEMA money that reached Davie, Hurricane Wilma (2005): 11,691 households applied for aid, $10.5M approved, and $18.7M to the Town of Davie for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 245 paid, $1.4M.
Is Davie at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Davie’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Davie.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Davie’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.