Capt. John Foley Horr House · Photo: Cristoph3r · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Marco Island’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marco Island gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #498 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (82%). Flood insurance has paid 1,029 claims here since 2001.
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 Marco Island’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Marco Island 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
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 Marco Island’s grade
Hurricanes are 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Marco Island, and Marco Island’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 7%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #498 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Marco Island’s residents live in 6 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, Marco Island has more expected damage per building than 78% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.2M a year in losses across Marco Island: $17.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Marco Island flood? Yes: 1,029 flood claims since 2001
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Marco Island, from FEMA’s records: 55.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ian753 claims · $35.8M
- Hurricane Irma184 claims · $9.6M
- Hurricane Milton50 claims · $1.0M
Marco Island is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Collier County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Marco Island
Disasters that paid out in Marco Island itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Marco Island), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton104 households applied for aid$62K aid approved$1.6M to the City of Marco Island for repairs50 flood claims paid for it, $1.0M
- 2024Hurricane Helene17 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$209K to the City of Marco Island for repairs19 flood claims paid for it, $367K
- 2022Hurricane Ian1,043 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$1.8M to the City of Marco Island for repairs753 flood claims paid for it, $35.8M
- 2017Hurricane Irma2,567 households applied for aid$953K aid approved$5.7M to the City of Marco Island for repairs184 flood claims paid for it, $9.6M
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$51K to the City of Marco Island for repairs
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay1 households applied for aid$61K to the City of Marco Island for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $6K
Show all 10
- 2005Hurricane Wilma893 households applied for aid$214K aid approved$1.1M to the City of Marco Island for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $13K
- 2004Hurricane Frances1 households applied for aid$10K to the City of Marco Island for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley13 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$302K to the City of Marco Island for repairs
- 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding Associated with Tropical Storm Gabrielle$2K to the City of Marco Island for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Collier County has had 36 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 7 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Collier County, 1999–2020.
Old photos of Marco Island after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Marco Island archive →Marco Island and its neighbors
Marco Island has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marco Island | Dmore damage than 92% | hurricanes | 1,029 |
| Goodland | — | 104 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Marco Island 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.
- 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.
- Marco Island residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Marco Island
Is Marco Island at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marco Island has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #498 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (82%) and river and rain flooding (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Marco Island flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,029 claims in Marco Island since 2001, $46.9M in all, or 55.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 128 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ian (753).
Is Marco Island 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 Collier County, 29.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Marco Island?
Marco Island is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% 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 Marco Island?
By FEMA money that reached Marco Island, Hurricane Irma (2017): 2,567 households applied for aid, $953K approved, and $5.7M to the City of Marco Island for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ian: 753 paid, $35.8M.
Is Marco Island at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Marco Island’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Marco Island.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Marco Island’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.