Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY 2.5More hazard damage per building is expected in Holly Hill than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holly Hill gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #328 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (52%), then river and rain flooding (42%). Flood insurance has paid 486 claims here since 1980.
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 Holly Hill’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Holly Hill 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 Holly Hill’s grade
Hurricanes are 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Holly Hill, and Holly Hill’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 5% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #328 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Holly Hill’s residents live in 8 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, Holly Hill has more expected damage per building than 51% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Holly Hill: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Holly Hill flood? Yes: 486 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Holly Hill, from FEMA’s records: 70.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Milton215 claims · $11.9M
- Hurricane Ian113 claims · $5.7M
- The Low pressure system82 claims · $1.6M
Holly Hill is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Volusia County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Holly Hill
Disasters that paid out in Holly Hill itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Holly Hill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton836 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved$649K to the City of Holly Hill for repairs215 flood claims paid for it, $11.9M
- 2022Hurricane Nicole59 households applied for aid$117K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Ian1,118 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$1.7M to the City of Holly Hill for repairs113 flood claims paid for it, $5.7M
- 2017Hurricane Irma1,559 households applied for aid$693K aid approved$2.0M to the City of Holly Hill for repairs19 flood claims paid for it, $994K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew678 households applied for aid$214K aid approved$2.2M to the City of Holly Hill for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $50K
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds617 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$20K to the City of Holly Hill for repairs84 flood claims paid that year
Show all 13
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay17 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$7K to the City of Holly Hill for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne207 households applied for aid$200K aid approved$616K to the City of Holly Hill for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan15 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances857 households applied for aid$773K aid approved$968K to the City of Holly Hill for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $143K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley800 households applied for aid$476K aid approved$540K to the City of Holly Hill for repairs
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$158K to the City of Holly Hill for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$119K to the City of Holly Hill 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 Holly Hill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Holly Hill archive →Holly Hill and its neighbors
Holly Hill is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daytona Beach | Cmore damage than 74% | hurricanes | 1,683 |
| Holly Hill | C−more damage than 80% | hurricanes | 486 |
| Ormond Beach | C−more damage than 82% | hurricanes | 573 |
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 Holly Hill 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.
- Holly Hill 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 Holly Hill
Is Holly Hill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holly Hill has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #328 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (52%) and river and rain flooding (42%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Holly Hill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 486 claims in Holly Hill since 1980, $20.9M in all, or 70.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 92 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Milton (215).
Is Holly Hill 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 Holly Hill?
Holly Hill 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 Holly Hill?
By FEMA money that reached Holly Hill, Hurricane Ian (2022): 1,118 households applied for aid, $1.5M approved, and $1.7M to the City of Holly Hill for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Milton: 215 paid, $11.9M.
Is Holly Hill at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Holly Hill’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Holly Hill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Holly Hill’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.