Kelsey City City Hall · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Lake Park faces more hazard damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Park gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #201 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (57%), then river and rain flooding (40%). Flood insurance has paid 23 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 stands out about Lake Park’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lake Park 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 Lake Park’s grade
Hurricanes are 57% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake Park, and Lake Park’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C #201 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lake Park’s residents live in 3 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, Lake Park has less expected damage per building than 69% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Lake Park: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lake Park flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lake Park, from FEMA’s records: 6.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $6K
- Hurricane Jeanne2 claims · $53K
- Hurricane Wilma1 claim · $44K
Lake Park is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Palm Beach County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lake Park
Disasters that paid out in Lake Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lake Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton50 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$40K to the Town of Lake Park for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian171 households applied for aid$28K aid approved$6K to the Town of Lake Park for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$12K to the Town of Lake Park for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma1,810 households applied for aid$721K aid approved$288K to the Town of Lake Park for repairs
- 2016Hurricane Matthew$28K to the Town of Lake Park for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Wilma603 households applied for aid$283K aid approved$367K to the Town of Lake Park for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $44K
Show all 10
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne771 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$115K to the Town of Lake Park for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $53K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan19 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances1,012 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$214K to the Town of Lake Park for repairs
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$49K to the Town of Lake Park for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $6K
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 Lake Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lake Park archive →Lake Park and its neighbors
Lake Park is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riviera Beach | Cmore damage than 69% | hurricanes | 92 |
| Palm Beach Gardens | Cmore damage than 70% | hurricanes | 171 |
| Lake Park | Cmore damage than 72% | hurricanes | 23 |
| North Palm Beach | Cmore damage than 73% | hurricanes | 52 |
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 Lake Park 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.
- Lake Park 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 Lake Park
Is Lake Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Park has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #201 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (57%) and river and rain flooding (40%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lake Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Lake Park since 1979, $622K in all, or 6.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (3).
Is Lake Park 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 Lake Park?
Lake Park 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 Lake Park?
By FEMA money that reached Lake Park, Hurricane Frances (2004): 1,012 households applied for aid, $1.2M approved, and $214K to the Town of Lake Park for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 3 paid, $6K.
Is Lake Park at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (57%), and Lake Park’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lake Park’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.