Photo: Elisa.rolle · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Lake Worth Beach than in 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Worth Beach gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #122 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (69%), then river and rain flooding (28%). Flood insurance has paid 118 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 Lake Worth Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lake Worth 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 Lake Worth Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake Worth Beach, and Lake Worth Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 28% (lower than 89% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #122 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lake Worth Beach’s residents live in 11 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 Worth Beach has less expected damage per building than 81% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.3M a year in losses across Lake Worth Beach: $7.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lake Worth Beach flood? Yes: 118 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lake Worth Beach, from FEMA’s records: 6.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Frances10 claims · $108K
- Hurricane Irene9 claims · $71K
- Hurricane Jeanne8 claims · $60K
Lake Worth Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Palm Beach County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lake Worth Beach
Disasters that paid out in Lake Worth Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lake Worth Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton250 households applied for aid$49K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Hurricane Nicole$53K to the City of Lake Worth Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian1,249 households applied for aid$67K aid approved
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$120K to the City of Lake Worth Beach for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma$2.2M to the City of Lake Worth Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Hurricane Matthew$164K to the City of Lake Worth Beach for repairs
Show all 12
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$19K to the City of Lake Worth Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $43K
- 2005Hurricane Wilma$11.9M to the City of Lake Worth Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $51K
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne$3.6M to the City of Lake Worth Beach for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $60K
- 2004Hurricane Frances$7.4M to the City of Lake Worth Beach for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $108K
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$128K to the City of Lake Worth Beach for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $71K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$41K to the City of Lake Worth Beach for repairs
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 Worth Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lake Worth Beach archive →Lake Worth Beach and its neighbors
Lake Worth Beach has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Worth Beach | C+more damage than 65% | hurricanes | 118 |
| West Palm Beach | Cmore damage than 65% | hurricanes | 281 |
| Lantana | Cmore damage than 70% | hurricanes | 88 |
| Lake Clarke Shores | Cmore damage than 73% | hurricanes | 9 |
| Palm Beach | C−more damage than 81% | hurricanes | 679 |
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 Worth 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.
- Lake Worth 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 Lake Worth Beach
Is Lake Worth Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Worth Beach has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #122 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (69%) and river and rain flooding (28%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lake Worth Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 118 claims in Lake Worth Beach since 1978, $1.1M in all, or 6.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Frances (10).
Is Lake Worth 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 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 Worth Beach?
Lake Worth 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 Lake Worth Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Lake Worth Beach, Hurricane Wilma (2005): $11.9M to the City of Lake Worth Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Frances: 10 paid, $108K.
Is Lake Worth Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Lake Worth Beach’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake Worth Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lake Worth 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.