Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, St. Augustine Beach faces less hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Augustine Beach gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #3 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%), then hurricanes (40%). Flood insurance has paid 161 claims here since 1979.
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 St. Augustine Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What St. Augustine Beach faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
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 St. Augustine Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in St. Augustine Beach, and St. Augustine Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 5%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #3 of 638 in Florida; lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
St. Augustine Beach’s residents live in 4 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, St. Augustine Beach has less expected damage per building than 100% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across St. Augustine Beach: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does St. Augustine Beach flood? Yes: 161 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in St. Augustine Beach, from FEMA’s records: 35.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Matthew58 claims · $1.9M
- Hurricane Floyd15 claims · $909K
- Hurricane Irma11 claims · $253K
St. Augustine Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: St. Johns County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to St. Augustine Beach
Disasters that paid out in St. Augustine Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of St. Augustine Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton3 households applied for aid$159K to the City of St. Augustine Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $121K
- 2022Hurricane Nicole3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Ian4 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$94K to the City of St. Augustine Beach for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$46K to the City of St. Augustine Beach for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma41 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$299K to the City of St. Augustine Beach for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $253K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew32 households applied for aid$74K aid approved$172K to the City of St. Augustine Beach for repairs58 flood claims paid for it, $1.9M
Show all 11
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay$19K to the City of St. Augustine Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $25K
- 2004Hurricane Frances$65K to the City of St. Augustine Beach for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley$6K to the City of St. Augustine Beach for repairs
- 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding Associated with Tropical Storm Gabrielle$38K to the City of St. Augustine Beach for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$127K to the City of St. Augustine Beach for repairs15 flood claims paid for it, $909K
St. Johns County has had 22 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.
Old photos of St. Augustine Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the St. Augustine Beach archive →St. Augustine Beach and its neighbors
St. Augustine Beach has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Augustine Beach | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 161 |
| St. Augustine | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 2,333 |
| Butler Beach | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 914 |
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 St. Augustine 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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.
- St. Augustine Beach residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in St. Augustine Beach
Is St. Augustine Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Augustine Beach has lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #3 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%) and hurricanes (40%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does St. Augustine Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 161 claims in St. Augustine Beach since 1979, $4.6M in all, or 35.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 14 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Matthew (58).
Is St. Augustine 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 St. Johns County, 23.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in St. Augustine Beach?
St. Augustine Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 St. Augustine Beach?
By FEMA money that reached St. Augustine Beach, Hurricane Irma (2017): 41 households applied for aid, $10K approved, and $299K to the City of St. Augustine Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Matthew: 58 paid, $1.9M.
Is St. Augustine Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and St. Augustine Beach’s rate for it is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in St. Augustine Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where St. Augustine 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.