Photo: Connor J Williams · CC BY 2.0FEMA puts Melbourne Beach’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Melbourne Beach gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #494 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (83%), then river and rain flooding (14%). Flood insurance has paid 50 claims here since 1984.
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 Melbourne Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Melbourne 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 Melbourne Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Melbourne Beach, and Melbourne Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 14% (lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts).
D #494 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Melbourne Beach’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, Melbourne Beach has more expected damage per building than 77% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Melbourne Beach: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Melbourne Beach flood? Sometimes: 50 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Melbourne Beach, from FEMA’s records: 27.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Fay12 claims · $97K
- Hurricane Jeanne9 claims · $266K
- Hurricane Irma7 claims · $274K
Melbourne Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Brevard County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Melbourne Beach
Disasters that paid out in Melbourne Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Melbourne Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton72 households applied for aid$42K aid approved$86K to the Town of Melbourne Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Nicole22 households applied for aid$58K aid approved$25K to the Town of Melbourne Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian72 households applied for aid$83K aid approved$31K to the Town of Melbourne Beach for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$25K to the Town of Melbourne Beach for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma601 households applied for aid$220K aid approved$1.0M to the Town of Melbourne Beach for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $274K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew89 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$111K to the Town of Melbourne Beach for repairs
Show all 13
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay27 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$53K to the Town of Melbourne Beach for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $97K
- 2005Hurricane Wilma35 households applied for aid$17K aid approved$64K to the Town of Melbourne Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne1,542 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$192K to the Town of Melbourne Beach for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $266K
- 2004Hurricane Frances1,722 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$31K to the Town of Melbourne Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $42K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley13 households applied for aid$27K aid approved
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$130K to the Town of Melbourne Beach for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $31K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$190K to the Town of Melbourne Beach 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 Melbourne Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Melbourne Beach archive →Melbourne Beach and its neighbors
Melbourne Beach has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Beach | Dmore damage than 92% | hurricanes | 50 |
| Indialantic | Dmore damage than 92% | hurricanes | 44 |
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 Melbourne 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.
- Melbourne Beach residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Melbourne Beach
Is Melbourne Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Melbourne Beach has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #494 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (83%) and river and rain flooding (14%). 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 Melbourne Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 50 claims in Melbourne Beach since 1984, $993K in all, or 27.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Fay (12).
Is Melbourne 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 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 Melbourne Beach?
Melbourne Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Melbourne Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Melbourne Beach, Hurricane Jeanne (2004): 1,542 households applied for aid, $1.4M approved, and $192K to the Town of Melbourne Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Fay: 12 paid, $97K.
Is Melbourne Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Melbourne Beach’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Melbourne Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Melbourne 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.