Natural hazards · Opa-locka

Opa-locka, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Opa-locka comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 183 claims here since 1992. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Opa-locka?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Opa-locka to be higher than in 61% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes53%Inland flooding29%Heat waves6%Tornadoes5%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Opa-locka faces

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

Hurricanes

53% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 93% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Inland flooding

29% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 29% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Heat waves

6% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 28% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

5% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 42% of U.S. places

Lower here

Coastal floodingHailCold wavesEarthquakesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Ice stormsWinter weatherWildfireLandslidesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Opa-locka flood?

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

183paid claims since 1992

$6.4Mpaid to owners

27homes flooded more than once

19922026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 23 claims, $560K
June South Florida Flooding: 14 claims, $623K
Hurricane Eta: 12 claims, $739K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (8) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Opa-locka isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Dade County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

14buildings retrofitted against wind

3buildings floodproofed

Disasters that hit Opa-locka

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Opa-lockaDeclared for Dade County only

2024

Hurricane Milton

17 households applied for aid $1K aid approved

2022

Hurricane Ian

4 households applied for aid $700 aid approved $25K to the City of Opa-locka for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

9,818 households applied for aid $4.4M aid approved $427K to the City of Opa-locka for repairs

2008

Tropical Storm Fay

$4K to the City of Opa-locka for repairs

2005

Hurricane Wilma

15,736 households applied for aid $10.4M aid approved $2.1M to the City of Opa-locka for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

$222K to the City of Opa-locka for repairs

2004

Hurricane Frances

3,543 households applied for aid $3.8M aid approved

2004

Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley

1 household applied for aid

2003

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

2,143 households applied for aid $2.9M aid approved

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

Around Opa-locka

Opa-locka and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Miami Gardensmostly hurricanesHigh

Westviewmostly hurricanesHigh

Hialeahmostly hurricanesHigh

Opa-lockamostly hurricanesHigh

Biscayne Gardensmostly hurricanesHigh

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. Opa-locka covers 5 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Opa-locka’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Opa-locka. 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 Opa-locka total about $3.1M 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.