On FEMA’s figures, Indian Harbour Beach faces more hazard damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Indian Harbour Beach gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #467 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (80%), then river and rain flooding (16%). Flood insurance has paid 44 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 Indian Harbour 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
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 Indian Harbour Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Indian Harbour Beach, and Indian Harbour Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #467 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Indian Harbour 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, Indian Harbour Beach has more expected damage per building than 73% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.7M a year in losses across Indian Harbour Beach: $5.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Indian Harbour Beach flood? Sometimes: 44 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Indian Harbour Beach, from FEMA’s records: 9.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Fay22 claims · $157K
- Hurricane Irma8 claims · $124K
- Hurricane Wilma2 claims · $102K
Indian Harbour 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: Brevard County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Indian Harbour Beach
Disasters that paid out in Indian Harbour Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Indian Harbour Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton57 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$23K to the City of Indian Harbour Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Nicole8 households applied for aid$300 aid approved$153K to the City of Indian Harbour Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian39 households applied for aid$27K aid approved$18K to the City of Indian Harbour Beach for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$21K to the City of Indian Harbour Beach for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma741 households applied for aid$231K aid approved$179K to the City of Indian Harbour Beach for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $124K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew41 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$47K to the City of Indian Harbour Beach for repairs
Show all 13
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay56 households applied for aid$43K aid approved$60K to the City of Indian Harbour Beach for repairs22 flood claims paid for it, $157K
- 2005Hurricane Wilma7 households applied for aid$5K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $102K
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne632 households applied for aid$376K aid approved$16K to the City of Indian Harbour Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $18K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan6 households applied for aid$165 aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances1,032 households applied for aid$539K aid approved$115K to the City of Indian Harbour Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $9K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley17 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$2K to the City of Indian Harbour Beach for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$7K to the City of Indian Harbour Beach for repairs
Brevard County has had 29 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 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Brevard County, 1999–2008.
Old photos of Indian Harbour Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Indian Harbour Beach archive →Indian Harbour Beach and its neighbors
Indian Harbour Beach is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satellite Beach | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 102 |
| Indian Harbour Beach | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 44 |
| Merritt Island | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 213 |
| Melbourne | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 427 |
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 Indian Harbour 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.
- 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 Indian Harbour Beach
Is Indian Harbour Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Indian Harbour Beach has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #467 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (80%) and river and rain flooding (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Indian Harbour Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 44 claims in Indian Harbour Beach since 1979, $448K in all, or 9.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Fay (22).
Is Indian Harbour 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 Brevard County, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 11.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Indian Harbour Beach?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Indian Harbour 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 Indian Harbour Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Indian Harbour Beach, Hurricane Frances (2004): 1,032 households applied for aid, $539K approved, and $115K to the City of Indian Harbour Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Fay: 22 paid, $157K.
Is Indian Harbour Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Indian Harbour Beach’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Indian Harbour Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Indian Harbour 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.