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C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in DeBary · FEMA

FEMA puts DeBary’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, DeBary gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #375 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (53%), then hurricanes (41%). Flood insurance has paid 87 claims here since 2003.

River and rain flooding 53%Hurricanes 41%Tornadoes 4%

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 84%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#375 of 638 in Florida
Hazard risk
C−#375 of 638
in Florida · higher than 84% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
53% of expected building damage
Flood claims
87
paid since 2003 · $5.6M
Flooded more than once
5
properties
Disasters paid out here
14
of 30 declared for Volusia County

What stands out about DeBary’s natural hazards

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

Made safer with FEMA grants18 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared; 2 buildings retrofitted against wind with FEMA grants.Remembers 200856 flood claims were paid for 2008 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What DeBary 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

53%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 1 years in the area

Hurricanes

41%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Wildfire Strong wind Earthquakes Lightning Hail Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingWinter 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 DeBary’s grade

River and rain flooding is 53% of the building damage FEMA expects in DeBary, and DeBary’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Hurricanes add 41%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.

Where DeBary sits
DeBary
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− #375 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).

DeBary’s residents live in 7 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding53%Hurricanes41%Tornadoes4%Everything else2%

The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, DeBary has more expected damage per building than 59% of Florida towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.5M a year in losses across DeBary: $7.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Irma in 2017, FEMA took 2,857 aid registrations from DeBary addresses (the town has 9,960 homes) and flood insurance paid 3 claims for $144K.
A firm figure. It combines 7 census tracts by where DeBary’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 DeBary flood? Sometimes: 87 flood claims since 2003

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in DeBary, from FEMA’s records: 8.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
2003: 1 claim2004: 5 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 56 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 3 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 6 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 16 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200820222024
20032026
Biggest named events
  • Tropical Storm Fay56 claims · $4.2M
  • Hurricane Milton16 claims · $940K
  • Hurricane Ian6 claims · $131K
87
paid claims since 2003
$5.6M
paid to owners
5
homes flooded more than once
$64K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

DeBary isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Volusia County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
18flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
2buildings retrofitted against wind
Disasters

14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to DeBary

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

  1. 2024Hurricane Milton812 households applied for aid$633K aid approved$1.1M to the City of DeBary for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $940K
  2. 2023Hurricane Idalia$55K to the City of DeBary for repairs
  3. 2022Hurricane Nicole38 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$41K to the City of DeBary for repairs
  4. 2022Hurricane Ian1,192 households applied for aid$401K aid approved$1.3M to the City of DeBary for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $131K
  5. 2019Hurricane Dorian$38K to the City of DeBary for repairs
  6. 2017Hurricane Irma2,857 households applied for aid$862K aid approved$1.4M to the City of DeBary for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $144K
Show all 14
  1. 2016Hurricane Matthew101 households applied for aid$22K aid approved$327K to the City of DeBary for repairs
  2. 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds4 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$14K to the City of DeBary for repairs
  3. 2008Tropical Storm Fay374 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$3.1M to the City of DeBary for repairs56 flood claims paid for it, $4.2M
  4. 2007Severe Storms and Tornadoes3 households applied for aid$190 aid approved
  5. 2004Hurricane Jeanne568 households applied for aid$401K aid approved$2.0M to the City of DeBary for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $79K
  6. 2004Hurricane Ivan16 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
  7. 2004Hurricane Frances1,245 households applied for aid$938K aid approved$1.8M to the City of DeBary for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $15K
  8. 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley682 households applied for aid$445K aid approved$240K to the City of DeBary for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in DeBaryVolusia 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 DeBary after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the DeBary archive →
Next door

DeBary and its neighbors

DeBary has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Orange City: hazard risk DDeltona: hazard risk C−Orange CityDeltonaDeBary
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
DeBaryC−more damage than 84%river and rain flooding87
DeltonaC−more damage than 85%river and rain flooding87
Orange CityDmore damage than 85%river and rain flooding19

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 DeBary faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

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 ↗
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 ↗
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.
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 DeBary

Is DeBary at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, DeBary has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #375 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (53%) and hurricanes (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does DeBary flood?

Flood insurance has paid 87 claims in DeBary since 2003, $5.6M in all, or 8.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Fay (56).

Is DeBary 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 DeBary?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for DeBary’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in DeBary?

By FEMA money that reached DeBary, Tropical Storm Fay (2008): 374 households applied for aid, $1.1M approved, and $3.1M to the City of DeBary for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Fay: 56 paid, $4.2M.

Is DeBary at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (53%), and DeBary’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in DeBary.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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