Hippard House · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0For coastal flooding, Fernandina Beach’s building-damage rate is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fernandina Beach gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #19 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (39%), then hurricanes (38%). Flood insurance has paid 199 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 Fernandina Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Fernandina Beach 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
Hurricanes
Coastal 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 Fernandina Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 39% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fernandina Beach, and Fernandina Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 14%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B #19 of 638 in Florida; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fernandina Beach’s residents live in 6 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, Fernandina Beach has less expected damage per building than 97% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.9M a year in losses across Fernandina Beach: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fernandina Beach flood? Yes: 199 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fernandina Beach, from FEMA’s records: 24.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd60 claims · $663K
- Hurricane Irma16 claims · $296K
- Tropical Storm Debby12 claims · $147K
Fernandina Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Nassau County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fernandina Beach
Disasters that paid out in Fernandina Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Fernandina Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Hurricane Ian1 households applied for aid$700 aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Irma1,828 households applied for aid$636K aid approved$1.5M to the City of Fernandina Beach for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $296K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew357 households applied for aid$168K aid approved$7.5M to the City of Fernandina Beach for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $133K
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby29 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$19K to the City of Fernandina Beach for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $147K
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay41 households applied for aid$13K aid approved$115K to the City of Fernandina Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 10
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne80 households applied for aid$49K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances91 households applied for aid$50K aid approved$484K to the City of Fernandina Beach for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley$18K to the City of Fernandina Beach for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$341K to the City of Fernandina Beach for repairs60 flood claims paid for it, $663K
Nassau County has had 26 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 Nassau County, 1999–2000.
Old photos of Fernandina Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fernandina Beach archive →Get ready for what Fernandina 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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.
- Fernandina Beach residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Fernandina Beach
Is Fernandina Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fernandina Beach has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #19 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (39%) and hurricanes (38%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Fernandina Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 199 claims in Fernandina Beach since 1978, $1.8M in all, or 24.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (60).
Is Fernandina 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 Nassau County, 61% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 16.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fernandina Beach?
Fernandina 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 Fernandina Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Fernandina Beach, Hurricane Matthew (2016): 357 households applied for aid, $168K approved, and $7.5M to the City of Fernandina Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 60 paid, $663K.
Is Fernandina Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (39%), and Fernandina Beach’s rate for it is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fernandina Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fernandina 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.