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Mary McLeod Bethune HomeMary McLeod Bethune Home · Photo: Lvklock · CC BY-SA 4.0
CHazard risk
Natural hazards in Daytona Beach · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Daytona Beach than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Daytona Beach gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #245 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (59%), then river and rain flooding (32%). Flood insurance has paid 1,683 claims here since 1979.

Hurricanes 59%River and rain flooding 32%Tornadoes 5%

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

more than 74%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#245 of 638 in Florida
Hazard risk
C#245 of 638
in Florida · higher than 74% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
59% of expected building damage
Flood claims
1,683
paid since 1979 · $127M
Flooded more than once
296
properties · 45 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
25% off
Community discount (class 5)

What stands out about Daytona Beach’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

1,683 paid flood claims since 1979$127M in all; 296 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 91% of U.S. towns.25% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Daytona Beach residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5).Made safer with FEMA grants17 buildings retrofitted against wind; 14 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 2022611 flood claims were paid for 2022 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Daytona 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

59%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

River and rain flooding

32%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 1 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Wildfire Coastal flooding Earthquakes Strong wind Lightning Hail Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Winter stormsIce stormsAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Daytona Beach’s grade

Hurricanes are 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Daytona Beach, and Daytona Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Daytona Beach sits
Daytona Beach
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C #245 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Daytona Beach’s residents live in 29 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes59%River and rain flooding32%Tornadoes5%Everything else3%

The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Daytona Beach has less expected damage per building than 62% of Florida towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $28.5M a year in losses across Daytona Beach: $24.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Ian in 2022, FEMA took 16,163 aid registrations from Daytona Beach addresses (the town has 42,158 homes) and flood insurance paid 502 claims for $46.0M.
A firm figure. It combines 29 census tracts by where Daytona Beach’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Daytona Beach flood? Yes: 1,683 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Daytona Beach, from FEMA’s records: 39.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 8 claims1980: 1 claim1981: 0 claims1982: 3 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 2 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 6 claims1992: 6 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 53 claims1995: 14 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 1 claim1998: 0 claims1999: 6 claims2000: 6 claims2001: 7 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 96 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 2 claims2009: 161 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 4 claims2012: 1 claim2013: 4 claims2014: 10 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 28 claims2017: 190 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 2 claims2020: 1 claim2021: 5 claims2022: 611 claims2023: 3 claims2024: 449 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims201720222024
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Ian502 claims · $46.0M
  • Hurricane Milton445 claims · $39.6M
  • Hurricane Irma188 claims · $17.7M
1,683
paid claims since 1979
$127M
paid to owners
296
homes flooded more than once
$75K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
Each house = 5 homesFEMA “severe repetitive loss” (45)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount25% off flood insurance

Daytona Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Volusia County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
17buildings retrofitted against wind
14flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

16 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Daytona Beach

Disasters that paid out in Daytona Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Daytona Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Hurricane Milton12,226 households applied for aid$17.6M aid approved$3.1M to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs445 flood claims paid for it, $39.6M
  2. 2022Hurricane Nicole1,065 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$2.6M to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs106 flood claims paid for it, $10.8M
  3. 2022Hurricane Ian16,163 households applied for aid$25.0M aid approved$7.9M to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs502 flood claims paid for it, $46.0M
  4. 2019Hurricane Dorian$109K to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2017Hurricane Irma12,744 households applied for aid$6.8M aid approved$3.9M to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs188 flood claims paid for it, $17.7M
  6. 2016Hurricane Matthew4,339 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved$5.2M to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs28 flood claims paid that year
Show all 16
  1. 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds2,578 households applied for aid$4.6M aid approved$795K to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs161 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2008Tropical Storm Fay58 households applied for aid$57K aid approved$113K to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2007Severe Storms and Tornadoes10 households applied for aid$129 aid approved
  4. 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding74 households applied for aid$105K aid approved
  5. 2004Hurricane Jeanne1,594 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$777K to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs
  6. 2004Hurricane Ivan108 households applied for aid$962 aid approved
  7. 2004Hurricane Frances5,859 households applied for aid$6.1M aid approved$2.4M to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs74 flood claims paid for it, $1.8M
  8. 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley4,488 households applied for aid$2.8M aid approved$2.7M to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs
  9. 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$614K to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs
  10. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$1.5M to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Daytona BeachVolusia County only

Volusia 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Volusia County, 2006–2007.

Were you here?

Old photos of Daytona Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Daytona Beach archive →
Next door

Daytona Beach and its neighbors

Daytona Beach is 3rd of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Daytona Beach Shores: hazard risk COrmond Beach: hazard risk C−Holly Hill: hazard risk C−South Daytona: hazard risk C−Port Orange: hazard risk CDaytona Beach ShoresOrmond BeachHolly HillSouth DaytonaPort OrangeDaytona Beach
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Daytona Beach ShoresCmore damage than 71%hurricanes69
Port OrangeCmore damage than 72%hurricanes1,882
Daytona BeachCmore damage than 74%hurricanes1,683
South DaytonaC−more damage than 76%hurricanes1,358
Holly HillC−more damage than 80%hurricanes486
Ormond BeachC−more damage than 82%hurricanes573

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Daytona 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.

Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
  • Daytona Beach residents get 25% off flood insurance.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Daytona Beach

Is Daytona Beach at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Daytona Beach has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #245 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (59%) and river and rain flooding (32%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Daytona Beach flood?

Flood insurance has paid 1,683 claims in Daytona Beach since 1979, $127M in all, or 39.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 296 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ian (502).

Is Daytona 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 Volusia County, 57% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 11.1% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Daytona Beach?

Daytona 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 Daytona Beach?

By FEMA money that reached Daytona Beach, Hurricane Ian (2022): 16,163 households applied for aid, $25.0M approved, and $7.9M to the City of Daytona Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ian: 502 paid, $46.0M.

Is Daytona Beach at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Daytona Beach’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Daytona Beach.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Daytona 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.