Photo: Excel23, Michael Seeley from Melbourne, FL, United States · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Melbourne faces more hazard damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Melbourne gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #530 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (76%), then river and rain flooding (21%). Flood insurance has paid 427 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 Melbourne’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Melbourne 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’s grade
Hurricanes are 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Melbourne, and Melbourne’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 21% (lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts).
D #530 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Melbourne’s residents live in 29 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, Melbourne has more expected damage per building than 83% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $58.6M a year in losses across Melbourne: $53.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Melbourne flood? Yes: 427 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Melbourne, from FEMA’s records: 10.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Fay170 claims · $3.7M
- Hurricane Irma72 claims · $3.5M
- Hurricane Jeanne18 claims · $520K
Melbourne is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Brevard County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Melbourne
Disasters that paid out in Melbourne itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Melbourne), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton2,323 households applied for aid$757K aid approved$730K to the City of Melbourne for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2022Hurricane Nicole326 households applied for aid$232K aid approved$182K to the City of Melbourne for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian2,789 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$346K to the City of Melbourne for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$400K to the City of Melbourne for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Irma12,080 households applied for aid$5.9M aid approved$6.2M to the City of Melbourne for repairs72 flood claims paid for it, $3.5M
- 2016Hurricane Matthew720 households applied for aid$215K aid approved$579K to the City of Melbourne for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $32K
Show all 14
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay2,082 households applied for aid$4.3M aid approved$441K to the City of Melbourne for repairs170 flood claims paid for it, $3.7M
- 2005Hurricane Wilma213 households applied for aid$256K aid approved$895K to the City of Melbourne for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne7,607 households applied for aid$7.2M aid approved$2.4M to the City of Melbourne for repairs18 flood claims paid for it, $520K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan133 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances10,082 households applied for aid$7.1M aid approved$2.9M to the City of Melbourne for repairs13 flood claims paid for it, $228K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley211 households applied for aid$118K aid approved$77K to the City of Melbourne for repairs
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$721K to the City of Melbourne for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $69K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$107K to the City of Melbourne 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 after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Melbourne archive →Melbourne and its neighbors
Melbourne is 5th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Harbour Beach | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 44 |
| Palm Shores | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | — |
| Merritt Island | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 213 |
| West Melbourne | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 110 |
| Melbourne | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 427 |
| Palm Bay | Dmore damage than 94% | hurricanes | 151 |
| Melbourne Village | — | 778 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 Melbourne 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 residents get 15% 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
Is Melbourne at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Melbourne has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #530 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (76%) and river and rain flooding (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Melbourne flood?
Flood insurance has paid 427 claims in Melbourne since 1979, $9.3M in all, or 10.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 44 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Fay (170).
Is Melbourne 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?
Melbourne is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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?
By FEMA money that reached Melbourne, Hurricane Irma (2017): 12,080 households applied for aid, $5.9M approved, and $6.2M to the City of Melbourne for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Fay: 170 paid, $3.7M.
Is Melbourne at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Melbourne’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Melbourne.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Melbourne’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.