On FEMA’s figures, Malabar faces more hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Malabar gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #573 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (68%), then river and rain flooding (19%). Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 2004.
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 Malabar’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Malabar 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
Wildfire
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 Malabar’s grade
Hurricanes are 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Malabar, and Malabar’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 10%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #573 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Malabar’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Malabar has more expected damage per building than 90% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Malabar: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Malabar flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 2004
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Malabar, from FEMA’s records: 10.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Jeanne4 claims · $36K
- Tropical Storm Fay3 claims · $245K
- Hurricane Irma2 claims · $77K
Malabar 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Malabar
Disasters that paid out in Malabar itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Malabar), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton56 households applied for aid$29K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Nicole15 households applied for aid$126K aid approved$693K to the Town of Malabar for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian64 households applied for aid$46K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $10K
- 2017Hurricane Irma323 households applied for aid$151K aid approved$29K to the Town of Malabar for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $77K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew24 households applied for aid$28K aid approved$6K to the Town of Malabar for repairs
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay22 households applied for aid$38K aid approved$7K to the Town of Malabar for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $245K
Show all 12
- 2005Hurricane Wilma9 households applied for aid$19K aid approved$29K to the Town of Malabar for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $58K
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne553 households applied for aid$583K aid approved$382K to the Town of Malabar for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $36K
- 2004Hurricane Frances558 households applied for aid$613K aid approved$223K to the Town of Malabar for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $65K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley7 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$3K to the Town of Malabar for repairs
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$12K to the Town of Malabar for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$2K to the Town of Malabar 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 Malabar after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Malabar archive →Malabar and its neighbors
Malabar is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Bay | Dmore damage than 94% | hurricanes | 151 |
| Malabar | Dmore damage than 95% | hurricanes | 14 |
| Grant-Valkaria | D−more damage than 95% | hurricanes | 21 |
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 Malabar 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Malabar
Is Malabar at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Malabar has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #573 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (68%) and river and rain flooding (19%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Malabar flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Malabar since 2004, $490K in all, or 10.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Jeanne (4).
Is Malabar 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 Malabar?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Malabar’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 Malabar?
By FEMA money that reached Malabar, Hurricane Jeanne (2004): 553 households applied for aid, $583K approved, and $382K to the Town of Malabar for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Jeanne: 4 paid, $36K.
Is Malabar at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Malabar’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Malabar.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Malabar’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.