Rockledge Drive Residential District · Photo: Fl295 at English Wikipedia · Public domainFEMA puts Rockledge’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockledge gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #524 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (71%), then river and rain flooding (25%). Flood insurance has paid 40 claims here since 1987.
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 Rockledge’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rockledge 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 Rockledge’s grade
Hurricanes are 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rockledge, and Rockledge’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 1%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
D #524 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rockledge’s residents live in 7 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, Rockledge has more expected damage per building than 82% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.7M a year in losses across Rockledge: $16.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rockledge flood? Sometimes: 40 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rockledge, from FEMA’s records: 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irma10 claims · $184K
- Tropical Storm Fay5 claims · $40K
- Hurricane Ian3 claims · $16K
Rockledge is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Brevard County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rockledge
Disasters that paid out in Rockledge itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rockledge), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton631 households applied for aid$269K aid approved$374K to the City of Rockledge for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Nicole101 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$351K to the City of Rockledge for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian784 households applied for aid$398K aid approved$213K to the City of Rockledge for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $16K
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$32K to the City of Rockledge for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma3,853 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$1.2M to the City of Rockledge for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $184K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew225 households applied for aid$22K aid approved$490K to the City of Rockledge for repairs
Show all 13
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay108 households applied for aid$48K aid approved$70K to the City of Rockledge for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $40K
- 2005Hurricane Wilma42 households applied for aid$52K aid approved$357K to the City of Rockledge for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne1,122 households applied for aid$609K aid approved$334K to the City of Rockledge for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $128K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan30 households applied for aid$1K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $2K
- 2004Hurricane Frances1,888 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$270K to the City of Rockledge for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $90K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley112 households applied for aid$82K aid approved$49K to the City of Rockledge for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$22K to the City of Rockledge for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Brevard County has had 29 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 Brevard County, 1999–2008.
Old photos of Rockledge after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rockledge archive →Rockledge and its neighbors
Rockledge is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merritt Island | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 213 |
| Cocoa | Dmore damage than 92% | hurricanes | 62 |
| Cocoa West | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 7 |
| Rockledge | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 40 |
| Viera East | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 18 |
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 Rockledge 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.
- Rockledge residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Rockledge
Is Rockledge at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockledge has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #524 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (71%) and river and rain flooding (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rockledge flood?
Flood insurance has paid 40 claims in Rockledge since 1987, $565K in all, or 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irma (10).
Is Rockledge 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 Brevard County, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 11.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rockledge?
Rockledge is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% 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 Rockledge?
By FEMA money that reached Rockledge, Hurricane Irma (2017): 3,853 households applied for aid, $1.4M approved, and $1.2M to the City of Rockledge for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irma: 10 paid, $184K.
Is Rockledge at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Rockledge’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rockledge.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rockledge’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.