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D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Holmes Beach · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, few U.S. towns expect more hazard damage per building than Holmes Beach, mostly from coastal flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holmes Beach gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (63%), then hurricanes (30%). Flood insurance has paid 1,879 claims here since 1979.

Coastal flooding 63%Hurricanes 30%River and rain flooding 6%

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

among the highestof U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
D−#638 of 638
in Florida · among the highest of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Coastal flooding
63% of expected building damage
Flood claims
1,879
paid since 1979 · $160M
Flooded more than once
111
properties · 21 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
25% off
Community discount (class 5)

What stands out about Holmes Beach’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

1,879 paid flood claims since 1979$160M in all; 111 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 99% of U.S. towns.25% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Holmes Beach residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5).Coastal flooding: the top 1% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for coastal flooding here ranks in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts; it is 63.2% of the damage it expects.Made safer with FEMA grants8 homes raised above flood level; 1 building retrofitted against wind; 1 flood-prone property bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Holmes Beach faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Coastal flooding

63%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts

Hurricanes

30%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

River and rain flooding

6%of expected building damage
Well below average · lower than 95% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Strong wind Lightning top 1% Hail Earthquakes Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Winter stormsIce stormsAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Holmes Beach’s grade

Coastal flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Holmes Beach, and Holmes Beach’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Hurricanes add 30%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Holmes Beach sits
Holmes Beach
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #638 of 638 in Florida; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).

Holmes Beach’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Coastal flooding63%Hurricanes30%River and rain flooding6%Everything else1%

The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Holmes Beach has more expected damage per building than 100% of Florida towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.5M a year in losses across Holmes Beach: $6.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Helene in 2024, FEMA took 792 aid registrations from Holmes Beach addresses (the town has 4,421 homes) and flood insurance paid 1,364 claims for $154M.
A small-area figure. Holmes Beach covers 3 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Holmes Beach flood? Yes: 1,879 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Holmes Beach, from FEMA’s records: 425.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 3 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 2 claims1982: 91 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 147 claims1986: 1 claim1987: 1 claim1988: 18 claims1989: 1 claim1990: 0 claims1991: 5 claims1992: 32 claims1993: 15 claims1994: 1 claim1995: 6 claims1996: 51 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 21 claims2000: 11 claims2001: 6 claims2002: 2 claims2003: 2 claims2004: 2 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 2 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 1 claim2017: 2 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 4 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 59 claims2024: 1,391 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198219852024
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Helene1,364 claims · $154M
  • Hurricane Elena120 claims · $868K
  • The The ’No-Name Storm’90 claims · $281K
1,879
paid claims since 1979
$160M
paid to owners
111
homes flooded more than once
$85K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
Each house = 2 homesFEMA “severe repetitive loss” (21)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount25% off flood insurance

Holmes Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Manatee County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
8homes raised above flood level
1building retrofitted against wind
1flood-prone property bought out and cleared
Disasters

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Holmes Beach

Disasters that paid out in Holmes Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Holmes Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Hurricane Milton476 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved21 flood claims paid for it, $302K
  2. 2024Hurricane Helene792 households applied for aid$5.4M aid approved1,364 flood claims paid for it, $154M
  3. 2024Hurricane Debby8 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
  4. 2023Hurricane Idalia23 households applied for aid$52K aid approved50 flood claims paid for it, $3.3M
  5. 2022Hurricane Ian62 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
  6. 2017Hurricane Irma221 households applied for aid$51K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
  1. 2004Hurricane Jeanne12 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
  2. 2004Hurricane Frances14 households applied for aid$838 aid approved
  3. 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley3 households applied for aid$844 aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Holmes BeachManatee County only

Manatee County has had 37 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 Manatee County, 1999–2001.

Were you here?

Old photos of Holmes Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Holmes Beach archive →
Next door

Holmes Beach and its neighbors

Holmes Beach is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Anna Maria: hazard risk D−Bradenton Beach: not gradedAnna MariaBradenton BeachHolmes Beach
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Anna MariaD−among the highest damagecoastal flooding1,074
Holmes BeachD−among the highest damagecoastal flooding1,879
Bradenton Beach—733 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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Holmes 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.

When the tide surges
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
  • Holmes Beach residents get 25% off flood insurance.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Holmes Beach

Is Holmes Beach at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holmes Beach has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (63%) and hurricanes (30%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Holmes Beach flood?

Flood insurance has paid 1,879 claims in Holmes Beach since 1979, $160M in all, or 425.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 111 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (1,364).

Is Holmes 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 Manatee County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 17.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Holmes Beach?

Holmes 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 Holmes Beach?

By FEMA money that reached Holmes Beach, Hurricane Helene (2024): 792 households applied for aid, $5.4M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 1,364 paid, $154M.

Is Holmes Beach at risk from coastal flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Holmes Beach’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Holmes Beach.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Holmes 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.