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Natural hazards · Miami

Miami, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Miami comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 4,323 claims here since 1986. 16 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Miami?

60
High
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Miami to be higher than in 60% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes49%Inland flooding32%Heat waves6%Everything else14%
By hazard

What Miami faces

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

Hurricanes

49% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

32% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 30% of U.S. places
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Heat waves

6% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 27% of U.S. places
Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailCold 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 flood?

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

4,323paid claims since 1986
$119Mpaid to owners
303homes flooded more than once
19862026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Irene: 1,131 claims, $15.0M
  • Hurricane Irma: 493 claims, $34.1M
  • Hurricane Andrew: 341 claims, $16.6M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 6 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (43) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
🏷️ 20% off flood insurance. Miami is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Dade County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

728buildings retrofitted against wind
4storm safe rooms built
2homes raised above flood level
1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters that hit Miami

16 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into MiamiDeclared for Dade County only
2024

Hurricane Milton

267 households applied for aid $1K aid approved $245K to the City of Miami for repairs
2022

Hurricane Nicole

$52K to the City of Miami for repairs
2022

Hurricane Ian

40 households applied for aid $4K aid approved $221K to the City of Miami for repairs
2020

Hurricane Isaias

$129K to the City of Miami for repairs
2017

Hurricane Irma

350,124 households applied for aid $130M aid approved $48.0M to the City of Miami for repairs
2008

Tropical Storm Fay

$35K to the City of Miami for repairs
2005

Hurricane Wilma

98,810 households applied for aid $53.5M aid approved $36.9M to the City of Miami for repairs
2005

Tropical Storm Rita

$18K to the City of Miami for repairs
2005

Hurricane Katrina

$16.2M to the City of Miami for repairs
2004

Hurricane Jeanne

6 households applied for aid $5K aid approved $189K to the City of Miami for repairs
2004

Hurricane Frances

13,877 households applied for aid $20.2M aid approved $719K to the City of Miami for repairs
2004

Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley

1 household applied for aid
2003

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

10,061 households applied for aid $10.0M aid approved
2000

Severe Storms and Flooding

$6.7M to the City of Miami for repairs
1999

Fl-Hurricane Irene-Dr-Req

$1.0M to the City of Miami for repairs
1999

Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations

$75K to the City of Miami for repairs
Dade County has had 35 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.
Around Miami

Miami and the towns around it

Coral Gables: High, mostly hurricanesEl Portal: High, mostly inland floodingWest Little River: High, mostly inland floodingMiami Beach: High, mostly hurricanesGladeview: High, mostly hurricanesFisher Island: Moderate, mostly hurricanesBrownsville: High, mostly hurricanesPinecrest: High, mostly inland floodingPalmetto Bay: High, mostly inland floodingMiami Shores: High, mostly hurricanesWestview: High, mostly hurricanesPinewood: High, mostly hurricanesHialeah: High, mostly hurricanesNorth Bay Village: High, mostly hurricanesMiami: High, mostly hurricanes MiamiCoral GablesEl PortalWest Little RiverMiami BeachGladeviewFisher IslandBrownsville
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
West Little Rivermostly inland floodingHigh
El Portalmostly inland floodingHigh
Miami Beachmostly hurricanesHigh
Coral Gablesmostly hurricanesHigh
Gladeviewmostly hurricanesHigh
Miamimostly hurricanesHigh
Brownsvillemostly 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 covers 129 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Miami’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Miami. 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 total about $91.8M 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.

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