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Sebastian FL city hall01Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Sebastian · FEMA

FEMA puts Sebastian’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sebastian gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #622 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (82%), then river and rain flooding (15%). Flood insurance has paid 34 claims here since 1979.

Hurricanes 82%River and rain flooding 15%

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 98%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#622 of 638 in Florida
Hazard risk
D−#622 of 638
in Florida · higher than 98% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
82% of expected building damage
Flood claims
34
paid since 1979 · $790K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Flood insurance
20% off
Community discount (class 6)

What stands out about Sebastian’s natural hazards

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

20% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Sebastian residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6).Hurricanes: the top 1% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for hurricanes here ranks in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts; it is 82.4% of the damage it expects.Made safer with FEMA grants4 buildings retrofitted against wind; 1 storm safe room built with FEMA grants.Remembers 200421 flood claims were paid for 2004 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Sebastian faces

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

Hurricanes

82%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

River and rain flooding

15%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Wildfire Strong wind Coastal flooding Lightning Hail Earthquakes Cold waves 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 Sebastian’s grade

Hurricanes are 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sebastian, and Sebastian’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 15% (lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Sebastian sits
Sebastian
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #622 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Sebastian’s residents live in 7 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes82%River and rain flooding15%Everything else3%

The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Sebastian has more expected damage per building than 97% of Florida towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $20.9M a year in losses across Sebastian: $19.3M 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 2,075 aid registrations from Sebastian addresses (the town has 12,976 homes) and flood insurance paid 1 claims for $34K.
A firm figure. It combines 7 census tracts by where Sebastian’s 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 Sebastian flood? Sometimes: 34 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sebastian, from FEMA’s records: 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 1 claim1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 1 claim1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 1 claim1998: 0 claims1999: 3 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 2 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 21 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 2 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 1 claim2017: 1 claim2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199920022004
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Jeanne17 claims · $587K
  • Hurricane Frances4 claims · $112K
  • Tropical Storm Fay2 claims · $5K
34
paid claims since 1979
$790K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$23K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount20% off flood insurance

Sebastian is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Indian River County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
4buildings retrofitted against wind
1storm safe room built
Disasters

14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sebastian

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

  1. 2024Hurricane Milton615 households applied for aid$581K aid approved$352K to the City of Sebastian for repairs
  2. 2022Hurricane Nicole6 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$45K to the City of Sebastian for repairs
  3. 2022Hurricane Ian135 households applied for aid$193K aid approved$148K to the City of Sebastian for repairs
  4. 2019Hurricane Dorian$31K to the City of Sebastian for repairs
  5. 2017Hurricane Irma2,075 households applied for aid$693K aid approved$524K to the City of Sebastian for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $34K
  6. 2016Hurricane Matthew169 households applied for aid$48K aid approved$1.5M to the City of Sebastian for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $774
Show all 14
  1. 2008Tropical Storm Fay25 households applied for aid$22K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $5K
  2. 2005Hurricane Wilma184 households applied for aid$163K aid approved$213K to the City of Sebastian for repairs
  3. 2004Hurricane Jeanne6,064 households applied for aid$6.6M aid approved$1.9M to the City of Sebastian for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $587K
  4. 2004Hurricane Ivan64 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  5. 2004Hurricane Frances5,137 households applied for aid$3.8M aid approved$1.2M to the City of Sebastian for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $112K
  6. 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley38 households applied for aid$21K aid approved
  7. 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$50K to the City of Sebastian for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $23K
  8. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$42K to the City of Sebastian for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in SebastianIndian River County only

Indian River County has had 23 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 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Indian River County, 1999–2007.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Sebastian archive →
Next door

Sebastian and its neighbors

Sebastian is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Roseland: hazard risk D−Wabasso: hazard risk D−RoselandWabassoSebastian
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
RoselandD−more damage than 98%hurricanes51
WabassoD−more damage than 98%hurricanes60
SebastianD−more damage than 98%hurricanes34

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 Sebastian 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.
  • Sebastian residents get 20% off flood insurance.
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 Sebastian

Is Sebastian at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sebastian has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #622 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (82%) and river and rain flooding (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Sebastian flood?

Flood insurance has paid 34 claims in Sebastian since 1979, $790K in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Jeanne (17).

Is Sebastian 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 Indian River County, 52% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 17.8% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Sebastian?

Sebastian 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 Sebastian?

By FEMA money that reached Sebastian, Hurricane Jeanne (2004): 6,064 households applied for aid, $6.6M approved, and $1.9M to the City of Sebastian for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Jeanne: 17 paid, $587K.

Is Sebastian at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Sebastian’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sebastian.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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