Photo: Sallicio · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Merritt Island faces more hazard damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Merritt Island gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #477 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (79%), then river and rain flooding (15%). Flood insurance has paid 213 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 Merritt Island’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Merritt 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
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 Merritt Island’s grade
Hurricanes are 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Merritt Island, and Merritt Island’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #477 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Merritt Island’s residents live in 10 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, Merritt Island has more expected damage per building than 75% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $23.9M a year in losses across Merritt Island: $21.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Merritt Island flood? Yes: 213 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Merritt Island, from FEMA’s records: 12.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Fay61 claims · $530K
- Hurricane Irma58 claims · $1.6M
- Hurricane Jeanne12 claims · $275K
Merritt Island 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Merritt Island
Disasters that paid out in Merritt Island itself (aid to households or repair grants to Merritt Island), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton986 households applied for aid$710K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Hurricane Nicole139 households applied for aid$107K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Ian905 households applied for aid$630K aid approved5 flood claims paid for it, $127K
- 2017Hurricane Irma5,225 households applied for aid$2.3M aid approved58 flood claims paid for it, $1.6M
- 2016Hurricane Matthew602 households applied for aid$132K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay412 households applied for aid$425K aid approved61 flood claims paid for it, $530K
Show all 11
- 2005Hurricane Wilma107 households applied for aid$116K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne2,012 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved12 flood claims paid for it, $275K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan38 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances3,747 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved9 flood claims paid for it, $317K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley215 households applied for aid$115K aid approved
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 Merritt Island after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Merritt Island archive →Merritt Island and its neighbors
Merritt Island is 4th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cocoa Beach | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 103 |
| Indian Harbour Beach | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 44 |
| South Patrick Shores | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 50 |
| Merritt Island | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 213 |
| Cocoa | Dmore damage than 92% | hurricanes | 62 |
| North Merritt Island | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 46 |
| Rockledge | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 40 |
| Melbourne | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 427 |
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 Merritt 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.
- 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 Merritt Island
Is Merritt Island at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Merritt Island has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #477 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (79%) and river and rain flooding (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Merritt Island flood?
Flood insurance has paid 213 claims in Merritt Island since 1978, $4.1M in all, or 12.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Fay (61).
Is Merritt 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 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 Merritt Island?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Merritt Island’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 Merritt Island?
By FEMA money that reached Merritt Island, Hurricane Irma (2017): 5,225 households applied for aid, $2.3M approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Fay: 61 paid, $530K.
Is Merritt Island at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Merritt Island’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Merritt Island.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Merritt 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.