Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Jacksonville Beach’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jacksonville Beach gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #34 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%), then hurricanes (33%). Flood insurance has paid 453 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 Jacksonville Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Jacksonville Beach, and Jacksonville Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 12%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #34 of 638 in Florida; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Jacksonville Beach’s residents live in 7 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, Jacksonville Beach has less expected damage per building than 95% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.0M a year in losses across Jacksonville Beach: $6.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Jacksonville Beach flood? Yes: 453 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Jacksonville Beach, from FEMA’s records: 34.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Matthew155 claims · $11.3M
- Hurricane Irma34 claims · $1.2M
- Hurricane Nicole10 claims · $334K
Jacksonville Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Duval County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Jacksonville Beach
Disasters that paid out in Jacksonville Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Jacksonville Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton114 households applied for aid$22K aid approved
- 2024Hurricane Helene65 households applied for aid$33K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Irma885 households applied for aid$223K aid approved$2.0M to the City of Jacksonville Beach for repairs34 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
- 2016Hurricane Matthew227 households applied for aid$207K aid approved$1.5M to the City of Jacksonville Beach for repairs155 flood claims paid for it, $11.3M
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby12 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$17K to the City of Jacksonville Beach for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $130K
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay26 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$333K to the City of Jacksonville Beach for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $36K
Show all 11
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne71 households applied for aid$50K aid approved$74K to the City of Jacksonville Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan6 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances137 households applied for aid$89K aid approved$749K to the City of Jacksonville Beach for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley9 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$44K to the City of Jacksonville Beach for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$369K to the City of Jacksonville Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Duval County has had 27 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 Duval County, 1999–2000.
Old photos of Jacksonville Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Jacksonville Beach archive →Jacksonville Beach and its neighbors
Jacksonville Beach has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Beach | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 453 |
| Neptune Beach | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Jacksonville | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3,865 |
| Palm Valley | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 76 |
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 Jacksonville 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.
- Jacksonville Beach residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Jacksonville Beach
Is Jacksonville Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jacksonville Beach has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #34 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%) and hurricanes (33%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Jacksonville Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 453 claims in Jacksonville Beach since 1978, $15.6M in all, or 34.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 48 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Matthew (155).
Is Jacksonville 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 Duval County, 60% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 6.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Jacksonville Beach?
Jacksonville Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Jacksonville Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Jacksonville Beach, Hurricane Irma (2017): 885 households applied for aid, $223K approved, and $2.0M to the City of Jacksonville Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Matthew: 155 paid, $11.3M.
Is Jacksonville Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Jacksonville Beach’s rate for it is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Jacksonville Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Jacksonville 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.