Photo: Kiran891 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Vero Beach than in 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vero Beach gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #624 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (87%), then river and rain flooding (11%). Flood insurance has paid 704 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 Vero Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Vero 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 Vero Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Vero Beach, and Vero Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 11% (lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
D− #624 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Vero Beach’s residents live in 10 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, Vero Beach has more expected damage per building than 98% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $20.1M a year in losses across Vero Beach: $19.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Vero Beach flood? Yes: 704 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Vero Beach, from FEMA’s records: 67.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Frances349 claims · $20.5M
- Hurricane Jeanne193 claims · $5.9M
- Hurricane Irma18 claims · $1.6M
Vero Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Indian River County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Vero Beach
Disasters that paid out in Vero Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Vero Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton6,163 households applied for aid$5.5M aid approved$94K to the City of Vero Beach for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
- 2022Hurricane Nicole$740K to the City of Vero Beach for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian3 households applied for aid$224K to the City of Vero Beach for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$140K to the City of Vero Beach for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma8,822 households applied for aid$3.4M aid approved$2.9M to the City of Vero Beach for repairs18 flood claims paid for it, $1.6M
- 2016Hurricane Matthew498 households applied for aid$168K aid approved$2.7M to the City of Vero Beach for repairs23 flood claims paid that year
Show all 14
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay$42K to the City of Vero Beach for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Wilma785 households applied for aid$608K aid approved$596K to the City of Vero Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne15,933 households applied for aid$18.5M aid approved$7.7M to the City of Vero Beach for repairs193 flood claims paid for it, $5.9M
- 2004Hurricane Ivan156 households applied for aid$24K aid approved7 flood claims paid for it, $809K
- 2004Hurricane Frances16,826 households applied for aid$14.4M aid approved$7.2M to the City of Vero Beach for repairs349 flood claims paid for it, $20.5M
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley86 households applied for aid$52K aid approved
- 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$374K to the City of Vero Beach for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $445K
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$79K to the City of Vero Beach for repairs
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.
Old photos of Vero Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Vero Beach archive →Vero Beach and its neighbors
Vero Beach is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian River Shores | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 51 |
| South Beach | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 5 |
| Gifford | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 3 |
| Vero Beach | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 704 |
| Vero Beach South | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 413 |
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 Vero 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.
- Vero Beach residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Vero Beach
Is Vero Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vero Beach has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #624 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (87%) and river and rain flooding (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Vero Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 704 claims in Vero Beach since 1979, $33.0M in all, or 67.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 96 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Frances (349).
Is Vero 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 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 Vero Beach?
Vero Beach 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 Vero Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Vero Beach, Hurricane Jeanne (2004): 15,933 households applied for aid, $18.5M approved, and $7.7M to the City of Vero Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Frances: 349 paid, $20.5M.
Is Vero Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Vero Beach’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Vero Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Vero 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.