Photo: Gamweb · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Ormond-by-the-Sea than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ormond-by-the-Sea gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #248 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (56%), then river and rain flooding (35%). Flood insurance has paid 142 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 Ormond-by-the-Sea’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Ormond-by-the-Sea 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 Ormond-by-the-Sea’s grade
Hurricanes are 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ormond-by-the-Sea, and Ormond-by-the-Sea’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C #248 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ormond-by-the-Sea’s residents live in 4 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, Ormond-by-the-Sea has less expected damage per building than 61% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Ormond-by-the-Sea: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ormond-by-the-Sea flood? Yes: 142 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ormond-by-the-Sea, from FEMA’s records: 23.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Milton22 claims · $1.2M
- Hurricane Irma18 claims · $1.4M
- Hurricane Frances12 claims · $122K
Ormond-by-the-Sea isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Volusia County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ormond-by-the-Sea
Disasters that paid out in Ormond-by-the-Sea itself (aid to households or repair grants to Ormond-by-the-Sea), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Hurricane Irma22 households applied for aid$5K aid approved18 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
- 2016Hurricane Matthew16 households applied for aid$7K aid approved9 flood claims paid for it, $368K
Volusia County has had 30 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 Volusia County, 2006–2007.
Old photos of Ormond-by-the-Sea after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ormond-by-the-Sea archive →Ormond-by-the-Sea and its neighbors
Ormond-by-the-Sea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ormond-by-the-Sea | Cmore damage than 74% | hurricanes | 142 |
| Ormond Beach | C−more damage than 82% | hurricanes | 573 |
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 Ormond-by-the-Sea 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 Ormond-by-the-Sea
Is Ormond-by-the-Sea at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ormond-by-the-Sea has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #248 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (56%) and river and rain flooding (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ormond-by-the-Sea flood?
Flood insurance has paid 142 claims in Ormond-by-the-Sea since 1979, $4.4M in all, or 23.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Milton (22).
Is Ormond-by-the-Sea 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 Volusia County, 57% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 11.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ormond-by-the-Sea?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ormond-by-the-Sea’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 Ormond-by-the-Sea?
By FEMA money that reached Ormond-by-the-Sea, Hurricane Matthew (2016): 16 households applied for aid, $7K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Milton: 22 paid, $1.2M.
Is Ormond-by-the-Sea at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Ormond-by-the-Sea’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ormond-by-the-Sea.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ormond-by-the-Sea’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.