Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Edgewater’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Edgewater gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #152 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (56%), then river and rain flooding (33%). Flood insurance has paid 238 claims here since 1985.
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 Edgewater’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Edgewater 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
Tornadoes
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 Edgewater’s grade
Hurricanes are 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Edgewater, and Edgewater’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C #152 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Edgewater’s residents live in 7 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, Edgewater has less expected damage per building than 76% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.1M a year in losses across Edgewater: $4.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Edgewater flood? Yes: 238 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Edgewater, from FEMA’s records: 19.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ian92 claims · $6.0M
- Hurricane Milton62 claims · $4.6M
- Hurricane Irma14 claims · $536K
Edgewater is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Volusia County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Edgewater
Disasters that paid out in Edgewater itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Edgewater), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton1,454 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$886K to the City of Edgewater for repairs62 flood claims paid for it, $4.6M
- 2022Hurricane Nicole99 households applied for aid$266K aid approved$6K to the City of Edgewater for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian3,199 households applied for aid$8.7M aid approved$2.4M to the City of Edgewater for repairs92 flood claims paid for it, $6.0M
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$123K to the City of Edgewater for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma2,255 households applied for aid$784K aid approved$1.2M to the City of Edgewater for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $536K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew1,280 households applied for aid$506K aid approved$3.3M to the City of Edgewater for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $58K
Show all 14
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds28 households applied for aid$17K aid approved$10K to the City of Edgewater for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay21 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$115K to the City of Edgewater for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne547 households applied for aid$313K aid approved$1.3M to the City of Edgewater for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan41 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances2,598 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved$1.1M to the City of Edgewater for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $126K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley1,657 households applied for aid$945K aid approved$1.4M to the City of Edgewater for repairs
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$166K to the City of Edgewater for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$121K to the City of Edgewater for repairs
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.
Old photos of Edgewater after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Edgewater archive →Edgewater and its neighbors
Edgewater has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgewater | Cmore damage than 68% | hurricanes | 238 |
| Oak Hill | Cmore damage than 70% | hurricanes | 14 |
| Glencoe | Cmore damage than 72% | hurricanes | — |
| New Smyrna Beach | C−more damage than 75% | hurricanes | 966 |
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 Edgewater 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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.
- Edgewater 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 Edgewater
Is Edgewater at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Edgewater has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #152 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (56%) and river and rain flooding (33%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Edgewater flood?
Flood insurance has paid 238 claims in Edgewater since 1985, $12.1M in all, or 19.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 28 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ian (92).
Is Edgewater 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 Edgewater?
Edgewater 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 Edgewater?
By FEMA money that reached Edgewater, Hurricane Ian (2022): 3,199 households applied for aid, $8.7M approved, and $2.4M to the City of Edgewater for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ian: 92 paid, $6.0M.
Is Edgewater at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Edgewater’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Edgewater.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Edgewater’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.