FEMA puts Highland Beach’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 86% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Highland Beach gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #397 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (46%), then river and rain flooding (35%). Flood insurance has paid 11 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 Highland 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
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 Highland Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 46% of the building damage FEMA expects in Highland Beach, and Highland Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 18%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #397 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Highland Beach’s residents live in 2 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, Highland Beach has more expected damage per building than 62% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Highland Beach: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Highland Beach flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Highland Beach, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irma3 claims · $299K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $1K
- Hurricane Frances1 claim · $70K
Highland Beach isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Palm Beach County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Highland Beach
Disasters that paid out in Highland Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Highland Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$14K to the Town of Highland Beach for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma104 households applied for aid$37K aid approved$71K to the Town of Highland Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $299K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew$8K to the Town of Highland Beach for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Wilma193 households applied for aid$67K aid approved$116K to the Town of Highland Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne16 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$17K to the Town of Highland Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances28 households applied for aid$13K aid approved$29K to the Town of Highland Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $70K
Show all 7
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$12K to the Town of Highland Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $1K
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 Highland Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Highland Beach archive →Highland Beach and its neighbors
Highland Beach is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 Highland 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Highland Beach
Is Highland Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Highland Beach has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #397 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (46%) and river and rain flooding (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Highland Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Highland Beach since 1979, $404K in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irma (3).
Is Highland 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 Highland Beach?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Highland Beach’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 Highland Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Highland Beach, Hurricane Wilma (2005): 193 households applied for aid, $67K approved, and $116K to the Town of Highland Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irma: 3 paid, $299K.
Is Highland Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (46%), and Highland Beach’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Highland Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Highland 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.