Photo: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Deerfield Beach faces more hazard damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Deerfield Beach gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #336 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (52%), then river and rain flooding (47%). Flood insurance has paid 138 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 Deerfield Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Deerfield 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
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 Deerfield Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Deerfield Beach, and Deerfield 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 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #336 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Deerfield Beach’s residents live in 18 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, Deerfield Beach has more expected damage per building than 53% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $28.8M a year in losses across Deerfield Beach: $25.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Deerfield Beach flood? Yes: 138 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Deerfield Beach, from FEMA’s records: 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene17 claims · $46K
- Hurricane Eta9 claims · $559K
- Hurricane Irma9 claims · $127K
Deerfield Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Broward County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Deerfield Beach
Disasters that paid out in Deerfield Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Deerfield Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton14 households applied for aid$43K to the City of Deerfield Beach for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding143 households applied for aid$89K aid approved
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$48K to the City of Deerfield Beach for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma7,607 households applied for aid$2.6M aid approved$2.1M to the City of Deerfield Beach for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $127K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew$71K to the City of Deerfield Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay$12K to the City of Deerfield Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 12
- 2005Hurricane Wilma6,953 households applied for aid$4.0M aid approved$11.9M to the City of Deerfield Beach for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $35K
- 2005Tropical Storm Rita$5K to the City of Deerfield Beach for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina$289K to the City of Deerfield Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$399K to the City of Deerfield Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $8K
- 2004Hurricane Frances870 households applied for aid$783K aid approved$2.4M to the City of Deerfield Beach for repairs
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$68K to the City of Deerfield Beach for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $46K
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 Deerfield Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Deerfield Beach archive →Deerfield Beach and its neighbors
Deerfield Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro Beach | Cmore damage than 73% | hurricanes | 27 |
| Pompano Beach | C−more damage than 77% | hurricanes | 388 |
| Deerfield Beach | C−more damage than 81% | hurricanes | 138 |
| Boca Raton | C−more damage than 83% | hurricanes | 278 |
| Lighthouse Point | Dmore damage than 86% | hurricanes | 76 |
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 Deerfield 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.
- 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.
- Deerfield Beach residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Deerfield Beach
Is Deerfield Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Deerfield Beach has higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #336 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (52%) and river and rain flooding (47%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Deerfield Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 138 claims in Deerfield Beach since 1979, $3.8M in all, or 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (17).
Is Deerfield 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 Deerfield Beach?
Deerfield Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Deerfield Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Deerfield Beach, Hurricane Wilma (2005): 6,953 households applied for aid, $4.0M approved, and $11.9M to the City of Deerfield Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 17 paid, $46K.
Is Deerfield Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Deerfield Beach’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Deerfield Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Deerfield 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.