Photo: Stephen B Calvert Clariosophic · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Palm City faces more hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palm City gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #575 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (72%), then river and rain flooding (24%). Flood insurance has paid 304 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 City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Palm City 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 Palm City’s grade
Hurricanes are 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Palm City, and Palm City’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #575 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Palm City’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 City has more expected damage per building than 90% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $20.4M a year in losses across Palm City: $18.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Palm City flood? Yes: 304 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Palm City, from FEMA’s records: 26.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Frances62 claims · $2.2M
- Hurricane Jeanne52 claims · $673K
- Hurricane Irene17 claims · $137K
Palm City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Martin County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Palm City
Disasters that paid out in Palm City itself (aid to households or repair grants to Palm City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton170 households applied for aid$127K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Irma1,058 households applied for aid$355K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay17 households applied for aid$17K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Wilma620 households applied for aid$251K aid approved11 flood claims paid for it, $148K
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne1,961 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved52 flood claims paid for it, $673K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan25 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
Show all 7
- 2004Hurricane Frances2,214 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved62 flood claims paid for it, $2.2M
Martin 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 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Martin County, 1999–2009.
Old photos of Palm City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Palm City archive →Palm City and its neighbors
Palm City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stuart | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 86 |
| North River Shores | Dmore damage than 94% | hurricanes | 49 |
| Palm City | Dmore damage than 95% | hurricanes | 304 |
| Port St. Lucie | D−more damage than 95% | hurricanes | 194 |
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 City 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 Palm City
Is Palm City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palm City has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #575 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (72%) and river and rain flooding (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Palm City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 304 claims in Palm City since 1978, $8.0M in all, or 26.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Frances (62).
Is Palm City 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 Martin County, 78% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 14.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Palm City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Palm City’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 Palm City?
By FEMA money that reached Palm City, Hurricane Frances (2004): 2,214 households applied for aid, $1.8M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Frances: 62 paid, $2.2M.
Is Palm City at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Palm City’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Palm City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Palm City’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.