Natural hazards · Miami Beach

Miami Beach, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Miami Beach comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1,335 claims here since 1986. 13 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Miami Beach?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Miami Beach to be higher than in 73% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and coastal flooding.

Hurricanes40%Coastal flooding37%Inland flooding15%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Miami Beach faces

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

Hurricanes

40% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Coastal flooding

37% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

15% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Ice stormsWinter weatherAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Miami Beach flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Miami Beach, from FEMA’s records.

1,335paid claims since 1986

$46.0Mpaid to owners

138homes flooded more than once

19862026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 166 claims, $1.5M
Hurricane Irma: 154 claims, $8.1M
Hurricane Wilma: 85 claims, $2.8M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 3 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (25) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 25% off flood insurance. Miami Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Dade County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

89buildings retrofitted against wind

2buildings floodproofed

Disasters that hit Miami Beach

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Miami Beach itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Miami Beach.

Brought FEMA money into Miami BeachDeclared for Dade County only

2024

Hurricane Milton

7 households applied for aid $310K to the City of Miami Beach for repairs

2022

Hurricane Nicole

$35K to the City of Miami Beach for repairs

2022

Hurricane Ian

$123K to the City of Miami Beach for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

15,058 households applied for aid $5.2M aid approved $9.5M to the City of Miami Beach for repairs

2008

Tropical Storm Fay

$35K to the City of Miami Beach for repairs

2005

Hurricane Wilma

2,667 households applied for aid $1.9M aid approved $9.0M to the City of Miami Beach for repairs

2005

Tropical Storm Rita

$30K to the City of Miami Beach for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

$1.6M to the City of Miami Beach for repairs

2004

Hurricane Jeanne

1 household applied for aid

2004

Hurricane Frances

133 households applied for aid $193K aid approved $583K to the City of Miami Beach for repairs

2003

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

3 households applied for aid

1999

Fl-Hurricane Irene-Dr-Req

$701K to the City of Miami Beach for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations

$39K to the City of Miami Beach for repairs

Dade County has had 35 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Miami Beach

Miami Beach and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Miami Beachmostly hurricanesHigh

North Bay Villagemostly hurricanesHigh

Miamimostly hurricanesHigh

Fisher Islandmostly hurricanesModerate

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Miami Beach covers 28 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Miami Beach’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Miami Beach. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Miami Beach total about $32.2M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.