Photo: Excel23 · CC BY-SA 4.0Neptune Beach’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Neptune Beach gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #38 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%), then hurricanes (32%). Flood insurance has paid 59 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 Neptune Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Neptune Beach faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
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 Neptune Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Neptune Beach, and Neptune Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 10%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #38 of 638 in Florida; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Neptune Beach’s residents live in 2 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, Neptune Beach has less expected damage per building than 94% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Neptune Beach: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Neptune Beach flood? Sometimes: 59 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Neptune Beach, from FEMA’s records: 15.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Debby8 claims · $127K
- Hurricane Irma4 claims · $21K
- Hurricane Matthew3 claims · $47K
Neptune Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Duval County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Neptune Beach
Disasters that paid out in Neptune Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Neptune Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton17 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$12K to the City of Neptune Beach for repairs
- 2024Hurricane Helene12 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$11K to the City of Neptune Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Nicole$9K to the City of Neptune Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian$23K to the City of Neptune Beach for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$36K to the City of Neptune Beach for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma219 households applied for aid$35K aid approved$460K to the City of Neptune Beach for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $21K
Show all 12
- 2016Hurricane Matthew24 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$431K to the City of Neptune Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $47K
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$58K to the City of Neptune Beach for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $127K
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay4 households applied for aid$64K to the City of Neptune Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne14 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$32K to the City of Neptune Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances32 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$179K to the City of Neptune Beach for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$16K to the City of Neptune Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Duval County has had 27 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Duval County, 1999–2000.
Old photos of Neptune Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Neptune Beach archive →Neptune Beach and its neighbors
Neptune Beach is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Beach | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 139 |
| Jacksonville Beach | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 453 |
| Neptune Beach | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Jacksonville | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3,865 |
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 Neptune 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Neptune Beach residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Neptune Beach
Is Neptune Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Neptune Beach has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #38 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%) and hurricanes (32%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Neptune Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 59 claims in Neptune Beach since 1979, $452K in all, or 15.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Debby (8).
Is Neptune 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 Duval County, 60% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 6.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Neptune Beach?
Neptune Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Neptune Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Neptune Beach, Hurricane Irma (2017): 219 households applied for aid, $35K approved, and $460K to the City of Neptune Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Debby: 8 paid, $127K.
Is Neptune Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Neptune Beach’s rate for it is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Neptune Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Neptune 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.