Mai-Kai Restaurant · Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Oakland Park than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oakland Park gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #399 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%), then hurricanes (40%). Flood insurance has paid 538 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 Oakland Park’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Oakland Park 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
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 Oakland Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oakland Park, and Oakland Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Hurricanes add 40%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D #399 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oakland Park’s residents live in 12 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, Oakland Park has more expected damage per building than 62% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.9M a year in losses across Oakland Park: $16.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oakland Park flood? Yes: 538 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oakland Park, from FEMA’s records: 28.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene96 claims · $646K
- Hurricane Eta47 claims · $986K
- Hurricane Irma37 claims · $745K
Oakland Park is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Broward County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Oakland Park
Disasters that paid out in Oakland Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Oakland Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton4 households applied for aid$73K to the City of Oakland Park for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding264 households applied for aid$252K aid approved38 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$48K to the City of Oakland Park for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Irma6,564 households applied for aid$2.3M aid approved$2.0M to the City of Oakland Park for repairs37 flood claims paid for it, $745K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew$30K to the City of Oakland Park for repairs
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay$24K to the City of Oakland Park for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 14
- 2005Hurricane Wilma4,001 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved$5.9M to the City of Oakland Park for repairs27 flood claims paid for it, $391K
- 2005Tropical Storm Rita$11K to the City of Oakland Park for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina$381K to the City of Oakland Park for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne$52K to the City of Oakland Park for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances206 households applied for aid$150K aid approved$342K to the City of Oakland Park for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the City of Oakland Park for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$23K to the City of Oakland Park for repairs96 flood claims paid for it, $646K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations$13K to the City of Oakland Park for repairs
Broward County has had 32 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Broward County, 1999–1999.
Old photos of Oakland Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oakland Park archive →Oakland Park and its neighbors
Oakland Park is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamarac | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 475 |
| Fort Lauderdale | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3,894 |
| Oakland Park | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 538 |
| Lauderdale Lakes | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 431 |
| Wilton Manors | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 203 |
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 Oakland Park 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.
- 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.
- Oakland Park 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 Oakland Park
Is Oakland Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oakland Park has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #399 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%) and hurricanes (40%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Oakland Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 538 claims in Oakland Park since 1979, $7.9M in all, or 28.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 63 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (96).
Is Oakland Park 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 Broward County, 76% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 19.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Oakland Park?
Oakland Park 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 Oakland Park?
By FEMA money that reached Oakland Park, Hurricane Wilma (2005): 4,001 households applied for aid, $2.2M approved, and $5.9M to the City of Oakland Park for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 96 paid, $646K.
Is Oakland Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Oakland Park’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oakland Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oakland Park’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.