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City Point Community ChurchCity Point Community Church · Photo: Fl295 at English Wikipedia · Public domain
DHazard risk
Natural hazards in Sharpes · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Sharpes faces more hazard damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sharpes gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #483 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (78%), then river and rain flooding (18%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2017.

Hurricanes 78%River and rain flooding 18%Tornadoes 2%

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 91%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#483 of 638 in Florida
Hazard risk
D#483 of 638
in Florida · higher than 91% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
78% of expected building damage
Flood claims
5
paid since 2017 · $123K
Disasters paid out here
5
of 29 declared for Brevard County
By hazard

What Sharpes faces

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

Hurricanes

78%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

River and rain flooding

18%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 1 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Coastal flooding top 5% Wildfire Strong wind 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 Sharpes’ grade

Hurricanes are 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sharpes, and Sharpes’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Sharpes sits
Sharpes
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D #483 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Sharpes’ residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes78%River and rain flooding18%Everything else4%

The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Sharpes has more expected damage per building than 76% of Florida towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Sharpes: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Sharpes covers 4 census tracts, combined by where 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 Sharpes flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 2017

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sharpes, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
2017: 1 claim2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 3 claims2025: 1 claim2026: 0 claims201720242025
20172026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Milton3 claims · $65K
  • Hurricane Irma1 claim · $27K
5
paid claims since 2017
$123K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$25K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Sharpes isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Brevard County.
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sharpes

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

  1. 2022Hurricane Ian1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
  2. 2017Hurricane Irma6 households applied for aid$500 aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $27K
  3. 2008Tropical Storm Fay1 households applied for aid$735 aid approved
  4. 2004Hurricane Jeanne7 households applied for aid$23K aid approved
  5. 2004Hurricane Frances9 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in SharpesBrevard County only

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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Sharpes archive →
Next door

Sharpes and its neighbors

Sharpes has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Cocoa: hazard risk DNorth Merritt Island: hazard risk DPort St. John: hazard risk DCocoaNorth Merritt IslandPort St. JohnSharpes
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
SharpesDmore damage than 91%hurricanes5
CocoaDmore damage than 92%hurricanes62
North Merritt IslandDmore damage than 93%hurricanes46
Port St. JohnDmore damage than 94%hurricanes16

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 Sharpes 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.
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 Sharpes

Is Sharpes at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sharpes has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #483 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (78%) and river and rain flooding (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Sharpes flood?

Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Sharpes since 2017, $123K in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Milton (3).

Is Sharpes 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 Sharpes?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sharpes’ 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 Sharpes?

By FEMA money that reached Sharpes, Hurricane Jeanne (2004): 7 households applied for aid, $23K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Milton: 3 paid, $65K.

Is Sharpes at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Sharpes’ rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sharpes.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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