FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Royal Palm Beach than in 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Royal Palm Beach gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #202 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (62%), then river and rain flooding (35%). Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1982.
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 Royal Palm Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Royal 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
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 Royal Palm Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Royal Palm Beach, and Royal Palm Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 35% (lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
C #202 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Royal Palm Beach’s residents live in 9 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, Royal Palm Beach has less expected damage per building than 68% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.7M a year in losses across Royal Palm Beach: $9.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Royal Palm Beach flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Royal Palm Beach, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Frances3 claims · $83K
- Hurricane Isaac3 claims · $15K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $5K
Royal Palm Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Palm Beach County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Royal Palm Beach
Disasters that paid out in Royal Palm Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Royal Palm Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton200 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Ian316 households applied for aid$35K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $65K
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$21K to the Village of Royal Palm Beach for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma3,459 households applied for aid$780K aid approved$405K to the Village of Royal Palm Beach for repairs
- 2016Hurricane Matthew$11K to the Village of Royal Palm Beach for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$2K to the Village of Royal Palm Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $15K
Show all 11
- 2005Hurricane Wilma2,343 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$998K to the Village of Royal Palm Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne1,419 households applied for aid$779K aid approved$89K to the Village of Royal Palm Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances2,572 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$1.4M to the Village of Royal Palm Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $83K
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$118K to the Village of Royal Palm Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $5K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$2K to the Village of Royal Palm Beach for repairs
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 Royal Palm Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Royal Palm Beach archive →Royal Palm Beach and its neighbors
Royal Palm Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loxahatchee Groves | C+more damage than 65% | hurricanes | 3 |
| The Acreage | Cmore damage than 71% | hurricanes | 28 |
| Royal Palm Beach | Cmore damage than 72% | hurricanes | 14 |
| Wellington | C−more damage than 83% | hurricanes | 24 |
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 Royal 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.
- 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.
- Royal Palm Beach residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Royal Palm Beach
Is Royal Palm Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Royal Palm Beach has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #202 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (62%) and river and rain flooding (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Royal Palm Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Royal Palm Beach since 1982, $224K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Frances (3).
Is Royal 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 Royal Palm Beach?
Royal Palm Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% 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 Royal Palm Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Royal Palm Beach, Hurricane Frances (2004): 2,572 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved, and $1.4M to the Village of Royal Palm Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Frances: 3 paid, $83K.
Is Royal Palm Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Royal 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 Royal Palm Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Royal 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.