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Seaboard Airline Railroad StationSeaboard Airline Railroad Station · Photo: Jhw57 · CC BY-SA 3.0
CHazard risk
Natural hazards in Palm Beach Gardens · FEMA

More hazard damage per building is expected in Palm Beach Gardens than in 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palm Beach Gardens gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #178 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (58%), then river and rain flooding (37%). Flood insurance has paid 171 claims here since 1979.

Hurricanes 58%River and rain flooding 37%Wildfire 2%

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

more than 70%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#178 of 638 in Florida
Hazard risk
C#178 of 638
in Florida · higher than 70% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
58% of expected building damage
Flood claims
171
paid since 1979 · $1.6M
Flooded more than once
10
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
12
of 29 declared for Palm Beach County

What stands out about Palm Beach Gardens’ natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

171 paid flood claims since 1979$1.6M in all; 10 properties flooded more than once.Moved out of harm’s way1 home raised above flood level with FEMA grants.Remembers 199964 flood claims were paid for 1999 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Palm Beach Gardens faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

58%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

River and rain flooding

37%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Wildfire Tornadoes Coastal flooding Lightning top 4% Strong wind Cold waves top 5% Hail Earthquakes Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Winter stormsIce stormsAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Palm Beach Gardens’ grade

Hurricanes are 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Palm Beach Gardens, and Palm Beach Gardens’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 37% (lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Palm Beach Gardens sits
Palm Beach Gardens
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C #178 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Palm Beach Gardens’ residents live in 23 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes58%River and rain flooding37%Everything else4%

The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Palm Beach Gardens has less expected damage per building than 72% of Florida towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $24.2M a year in losses across Palm Beach Gardens: $22.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Irma in 2017, FEMA took 3,400 aid registrations from Palm Beach Gardens addresses (the town has 31,400 homes).
A firm figure. It combines 23 census tracts by where Palm Beach Gardens’ residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Palm Beach Gardens flood? Yes: 171 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Palm Beach Gardens, from FEMA’s records: 5.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 2 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 1 claim1982: 17 claims1983: 1 claim1984: 2 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 27 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 64 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 2 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 42 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 3 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 4 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 1 claim2015: 0 claims2016: 1 claim2017: 0 claims2018: 3 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199519992004
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Jeanne27 claims · $319K
  • Hurricane Frances15 claims · $167K
  • Hurricane Irene5 claims · $13K
171
paid claims since 1979
$1.6M
paid to owners
10
homes flooded more than once
$10K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Palm Beach Gardens isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Palm Beach County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
1home raised above flood level
Disasters

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Palm Beach Gardens

Disasters that paid out in Palm Beach Gardens itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Palm Beach Gardens), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Hurricane Milton442 households applied for aid$318K aid approved$209K to the City of Palm Beach Gardens for repairs
  2. 2022Hurricane Ian757 households applied for aid$64K aid approved$56K to the City of Palm Beach Gardens for repairs
  3. 2019Hurricane Dorian$295K to the City of Palm Beach Gardens for repairs
  4. 2017Hurricane Irma3,400 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$1.8M to the City of Palm Beach Gardens for repairs
  5. 2016Hurricane Matthew$165K to the City of Palm Beach Gardens for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  6. 2012Hurricane Isaac$39K to the City of Palm Beach Gardens for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $36K
Show all 12
  1. 2008Tropical Storm Fay$10K to the City of Palm Beach Gardens for repairs
  2. 2005Hurricane Wilma1,748 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$3.3M to the City of Palm Beach Gardens for repairs
  3. 2004Hurricane Jeanne2,638 households applied for aid$2.1M aid approved$1.9M to the City of Palm Beach Gardens for repairs27 flood claims paid for it, $319K
  4. 2004Hurricane Frances3,417 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved$3.4M to the City of Palm Beach Gardens for repairs15 flood claims paid for it, $167K
  5. 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$100K to the City of Palm Beach Gardens for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $13K
  6. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$52K to the City of Palm Beach Gardens for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Palm Beach GardensPalm Beach County only

Palm Beach County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter 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 Palm Beach County, 1999–1999.

Were you here?

Old photos of Palm Beach Gardens after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Palm Beach Gardens archive →
Next door

Palm Beach Gardens and its neighbors

Palm Beach Gardens is 6th of the 10 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Cabana Colony: hazard risk B−North Palm Beach: hazard risk CJuno Ridge: hazard risk B−Lake Park: hazard risk CWest Palm Beach: hazard risk CThe Acreage: hazard risk CJupiter Farms: hazard risk C−Riviera Beach: hazard risk CJupiter: hazard risk CCabana ColonyNorth Palm BeachJuno RidgeLake ParkWest Palm BeachThe AcreageJupiter FarmsRiviera BeachJupiterPalm Beach Gardens
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Juno RidgeB−more damage than 54%hurricanes16
Cabana ColonyB−more damage than 55%hurricanes—
West Palm BeachCmore damage than 65%hurricanes281
JupiterCmore damage than 67%hurricanes227
Riviera BeachCmore damage than 69%hurricanes92
Palm Beach GardensCmore damage than 70%hurricanes171
The AcreageCmore damage than 71%hurricanes28
Lake ParkCmore damage than 72%hurricanes23
North Palm BeachCmore damage than 73%hurricanes52
Jupiter FarmsC−more damage than 75%hurricanes18

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Palm Beach Gardens faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Palm Beach Gardens

Is Palm Beach Gardens at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palm Beach Gardens has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #178 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (58%) and river and rain flooding (37%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Palm Beach Gardens flood?

Flood insurance has paid 171 claims in Palm Beach Gardens since 1979, $1.6M in all, or 5.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Jeanne (27).

Is Palm Beach Gardens 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 Palm Beach County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 13.0% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Palm Beach Gardens?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Palm Beach Gardens’ 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 Palm Beach Gardens?

By FEMA money that reached Palm Beach Gardens, Hurricane Frances (2004): 3,417 households applied for aid, $2.2M approved, and $3.4M to the City of Palm Beach Gardens for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Jeanne: 27 paid, $319K.

Is Palm Beach Gardens at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Palm Beach Gardens’ rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Palm Beach Gardens.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Palm Beach Gardens’ 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.