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DHazard risk
Natural hazards in West Melbourne · FEMA

More hazard damage per building is expected in West Melbourne than in 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, West Melbourne gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #527 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (76%), then river and rain flooding (20%). Flood insurance has paid 110 claims here since 1995.

Hurricanes 76%River and rain flooding 20%Wildfire 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 93%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#527 of 638 in Florida
Hazard risk
D#527 of 638
in Florida · higher than 93% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
76% of expected building damage
Flood claims
110
paid since 1995 · $4.0M
Flooded more than once
12
properties
Disasters paid out here
13
of 29 declared for Brevard County

What stands out about West Melbourne’s natural hazards

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

110 paid flood claims since 1995$4.0M in all; 12 properties flooded more than once.Made safer with FEMA grants3 buildings retrofitted against wind with FEMA grants.Remembers 200874 flood claims were paid for 2008 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What West Melbourne faces

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

Hurricanes

76%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

River and rain flooding

20%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 1 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Wildfire Tornadoes Strong wind Lightning Coastal flooding 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 West Melbourne’s grade

Hurricanes are 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in West Melbourne, and West Melbourne’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.

Where West Melbourne sits
West Melbourne
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D #527 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).

West Melbourne’s residents live in 11 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes76%River and rain flooding20%Everything else4%

The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, West Melbourne has more expected damage per building than 83% of Florida towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.8M a year in losses across West Melbourne: $16.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 11 census tracts by where West Melbourne’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 West Melbourne flood? Yes: 110 flood claims since 1995

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in West Melbourne, from FEMA’s records: 9.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1995: 4 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 3 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 1 claim2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 6 claims2005: 2 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 74 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 1 claim2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 19 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200420082017
19952026
Biggest named events
  • Tropical Storm Fay72 claims · $2.6M
  • Hurricane Irma18 claims · $1.2M
  • Hurricane Jeanne5 claims · $9K
110
paid claims since 1995
$4.0M
paid to owners
12
homes flooded more than once
$36K
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
No community discount

West Melbourne 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.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
3buildings retrofitted against wind
Disasters

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to West Melbourne

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

  1. 2024Hurricane Milton67 households applied for aid$17K aid approved$91K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs
  2. 2022Hurricane Nicole4 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$61K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs
  3. 2022Hurricane Ian52 households applied for aid$25K aid approved
  4. 2019Hurricane Dorian$51K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs
  5. 2017Hurricane Irma772 households applied for aid$317K aid approved$221K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs18 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
  6. 2016Hurricane Matthew36 households applied for aid$313 aid approved$39K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs
Show all 13
  1. 2008Tropical Storm Fay205 households applied for aid$637K aid approved$109K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs72 flood claims paid for it, $2.6M
  2. 2005Hurricane Wilma12 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$12K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $9K
  3. 2004Hurricane Jeanne320 households applied for aid$217K aid approved$102K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $9K
  4. 2004Hurricane Frances415 households applied for aid$227K aid approved$194K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs
  5. 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley7 households applied for aid$990 aid approved$9K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs
  6. 1999Fl-hurricane Irene-dr-req$9K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $3K
  7. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$25K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in West MelbourneBrevard 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 West Melbourne after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the West Melbourne archive →
Next door

West Melbourne and its neighbors

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

June Park: hazard risk DMelbourne: hazard risk DMelbourne Village: not gradedPalm Bay: hazard risk DJune ParkMelbourneMelbourne VillagePalm BayWest Melbourne
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
West MelbourneDmore damage than 93%hurricanes110
MelbourneDmore damage than 93%hurricanes427
June ParkDmore damage than 93%hurricanes26
Palm BayDmore damage than 94%hurricanes151
Melbourne Village—778 residents; we grade 1,000+

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 West Melbourne 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 West Melbourne

Is West Melbourne at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, West Melbourne has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #527 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (76%) and river and rain flooding (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does West Melbourne flood?

Flood insurance has paid 110 claims in West Melbourne since 1995, $4.0M in all, or 9.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Fay (72).

Is West Melbourne 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 West Melbourne?

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

By FEMA money that reached West Melbourne, Tropical Storm Fay (2008): 205 households applied for aid, $637K approved, and $109K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Fay: 72 paid, $2.6M.

Is West Melbourne at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and West Melbourne’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in West Melbourne.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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