Photo: Jimmy Baikovicius · CC BY-SA 2.0Sunny Isles Beach’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sunny Isles Beach gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #56 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (68%), then river and rain flooding (15%). Flood insurance has paid 97 claims here since 2000.
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 Sunny Isles Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Sunny Isles 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
Coastal 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 Sunny Isles Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sunny Isles Beach, and Sunny Isles Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 14%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #56 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sunny Isles Beach’s residents live in 8 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, Sunny Isles Beach has less expected damage per building than 91% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.3M a year in losses across Sunny Isles Beach: $4.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sunny Isles Beach flood? Sometimes: 97 flood claims since 2000
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sunny Isles Beach, from FEMA’s records: 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The June South Florida Flooding26 claims · $4.8M
- Hurricane Irma8 claims · $426K
Sunny Isles Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Dade County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sunny Isles Beach
Disasters that paid out in Sunny Isles Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Sunny Isles Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Hurricane Irma2,214 households applied for aid$760K aid approved$903K to the City of Sunny Isles Beach for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $426K
- 2005Hurricane Wilma405 households applied for aid$177K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Katrina$23K to the City of Sunny Isles Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances9 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$65K to the City of Sunny Isles Beach for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$811 to the City of Sunny Isles Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$35K to the City of Sunny Isles Beach for repairs
Its 2 counties have had 32 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in its 2 counties, 1999–2001.
Old photos of Sunny Isles Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sunny Isles Beach archive →Sunny Isles Beach and its neighbors
Sunny Isles Beach is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aventura | B−more damage than 50% | hurricanes | 236 |
| Sunny Isles Beach | B−more damage than 55% | hurricanes | 97 |
| North Miami | Cmore damage than 67% | hurricanes | 767 |
| North Miami Beach | Cmore damage than 70% | hurricanes | 228 |
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 Sunny Isles 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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.
- Sunny Isles Beach residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Sunny Isles Beach
Is Sunny Isles Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sunny Isles Beach has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #56 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (68%) and river and rain flooding (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sunny Isles Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 97 claims in Sunny Isles Beach since 2000, $9.5M in all, or 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 15 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from June South Florida Flooding (26).
Is Sunny Isles 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 Dade County, 74% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 33.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sunny Isles Beach?
Sunny Isles Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Sunny Isles Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Sunny Isles Beach, Hurricane Irma (2017): 2,214 households applied for aid, $760K approved, and $903K to the City of Sunny Isles Beach for repairs. By flood claims, June South Florida Flooding: 26 paid, $4.8M.
Is Sunny Isles Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Sunny Isles Beach’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sunny Isles Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sunny Isles 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.