Photo: Michael Kagdis · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Palm Beach than in 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palm Beach gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #343 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (50%), then coastal flooding (25%). Flood insurance has paid 679 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 Palm Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Palm Beach faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
Coastal flooding
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 Palm Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Palm Beach, and Palm Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 25%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #343 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Palm Beach’s residents live in 5 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, Palm Beach has more expected damage per building than 54% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.2M a year in losses across Palm Beach: $9.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Palm Beach flood? Yes: 679 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Palm Beach, from FEMA’s records: 64.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Frances98 claims · $3.8M
- Hurricane Irene67 claims · $1.2M
- Hurricane Jeanne39 claims · $1.8M
Palm Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Palm Beach County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Palm Beach
Disasters that paid out in Palm Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Palm Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Hurricane Nicole$3.8M to the Town of Palm Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian191 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$144K to the Town of Palm Beach for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma299 households applied for aid$94K aid approved$10.1M to the Town of Palm Beach for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $239K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew$220K to the Town of Palm Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay$2.9M to the Town of Palm Beach for repairs
Show all 10
- 2005Hurricane Wilma191 households applied for aid$102K aid approved$3.3M to the Town of Palm Beach for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $129K
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne170 households applied for aid$148K aid approved$2.0M to the Town of Palm Beach for repairs39 flood claims paid for it, $1.8M
- 2004Hurricane Frances262 households applied for aid$189K aid approved$6.5M to the Town of Palm Beach for repairs98 flood claims paid for it, $3.8M
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$165K to the Town of Palm Beach for repairs67 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
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.
Old photos of Palm Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Palm Beach archive →Palm Beach and its neighbors
Palm Beach is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Worth Beach | C+more damage than 65% | hurricanes | 118 |
| West Palm Beach | Cmore damage than 65% | hurricanes | 281 |
| Riviera Beach | Cmore damage than 69% | hurricanes | 92 |
| Lantana | Cmore damage than 70% | hurricanes | 88 |
| Palm Beach | C−more damage than 81% | hurricanes | 679 |
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 Palm 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Palm 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 Palm Beach
Is Palm Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palm Beach has higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #343 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (50%) and coastal flooding (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Palm Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 679 claims in Palm Beach since 1978, $14.1M in all, or 64.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 96 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Frances (98).
Is Palm 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 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?
Palm 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 Palm Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Palm Beach, Hurricane Irma (2017): 299 households applied for aid, $94K approved, and $10.1M to the Town of Palm Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Frances: 98 paid, $3.8M.
Is Palm Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Palm Beach’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Palm Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Palm 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.