FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Westgate as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westgate gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #66 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (77%), then river and rain flooding (20%). Flood insurance has paid 36 claims here since 1981.
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 Westgate 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 Westgate’s grade
Hurricanes are 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Westgate, and Westgate’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 20% (lower than 97% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #66 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Westgate’s residents live in 2 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, Westgate has less expected damage per building than 90% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Westgate: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Westgate flood? Sometimes: 36 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Westgate, from FEMA’s records: 14.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Frances16 claims · $184K
- The Torrential rain2 claims · $3K
- Hurricane Jeanne2 claims · $39K
Westgate isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Palm Beach County.The storms Westgate remembers
None of the 29 disasters declared for Palm Beach County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Westgate itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200418 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Jeanne, declared for Palm Beach County
- 19844 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19823 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Palm Beach County has had 29 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Palm Beach County, 1999–1999.
Old photos of Westgate after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Westgate archive →Westgate and its neighbors
Westgate has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westgate | C+more damage than 56% | hurricanes | 36 |
| Haverhill | Cmore damage than 72% | hurricanes | 6 |
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 Westgate 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Westgate
Is Westgate at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westgate has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #66 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (77%) and river and rain flooding (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Westgate flood?
Flood insurance has paid 36 claims in Westgate since 1981, $422K in all, or 14.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Frances (16).
Is Westgate 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 Palm Beach County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 13.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Westgate?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Westgate’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 Westgate?
By flood claims, Hurricane Frances: 16 paid, $184K.
Is Westgate at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Westgate’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Westgate.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Westgate’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.