Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Delray Beach faces more hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Delray Beach gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #229 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (59%), then river and rain flooding (35%). Flood insurance has paid 337 claims here since 1978.
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 Delray Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Delray 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 Delray Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Delray Beach, and Delray Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C #229 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Delray Beach’s residents live in 22 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, Delray Beach has less expected damage per building than 64% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $22.8M a year in losses across Delray Beach: $20.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Delray Beach flood? Yes: 337 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Delray Beach, from FEMA’s records: 9.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene43 claims · $359K
- Hurricane Frances16 claims · $120K
- Tropical Storm Mitch11 claims · $184K
Delray Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Palm Beach County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Delray Beach
Disasters that paid out in Delray Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Delray Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton393 households applied for aid$30K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Nicole$137K to the City of Delray Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian1,756 households applied for aid$453K aid approved
- 2020Hurricane Isaias$90K to the City of Delray Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$371K to the City of Delray Beach for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma11,432 households applied for aid$3.9M aid approved$4.5M to the City of Delray Beach for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $88K
Show all 14
- 2016Hurricane Matthew$279K to the City of Delray Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$25K to the City of Delray Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $18K
- 2005Hurricane Wilma10,601 households applied for aid$4.8M aid approved$8.5M to the City of Delray Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne1,707 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$299K to the City of Delray Beach for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $64K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan53 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances3,003 households applied for aid$2.1M aid approved$3.0M to the City of Delray Beach for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $120K
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$403K to the City of Delray Beach for repairs43 flood claims paid for it, $359K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$18K to the City of Delray Beach for repairs
Palm Beach County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter 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 Palm Beach County, 1999–1999.
Old photos of Delray Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Delray Beach archive →Delray Beach and its neighbors
Delray Beach is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boynton Beach | Cmore damage than 70% | hurricanes | 257 |
| Delray Beach | Cmore damage than 73% | hurricanes | 337 |
| Boca Raton | C−more damage than 83% | hurricanes | 278 |
| Highland Beach | Dmore damage than 86% | hurricanes | 11 |
| Gulf Stream | — | 785 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Delray 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.
- Delray Beach residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Delray Beach
Is Delray Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Delray Beach has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #229 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (59%) and river and rain flooding (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Delray Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 337 claims in Delray Beach since 1978, $2.6M in all, or 9.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (43).
Is Delray 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 Palm Beach County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 13.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Delray Beach?
Delray Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Delray Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Delray Beach, Hurricane Wilma (2005): 10,601 households applied for aid, $4.8M approved, and $8.5M to the City of Delray Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 43 paid, $359K.
Is Delray Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Delray Beach’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Delray Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Delray 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.