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Natural hazards · South Miami

South Miami, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in South Miami comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 87 claims here since 1991. 12 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is South Miami?

57
Moderate
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in South Miami to be higher than in 57% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes52%Inland flooding35%Everything else13%
By hazard

What South Miami faces

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

Hurricanes

52% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

35% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 27% of U.S. places
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Ice stormsWinter weatherDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 South Miami flood?

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

87paid claims since 1991
$1.3Mpaid to owners
11homes flooded more than once
19912026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Irene: 26 claims, $241K
  • Hurricane Katrina: 12 claims, $189K
  • Hurricane Andrew: 1 claim, $163K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
🏷️ 20% off flood insurance. South 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

3buildings retrofitted against wind
Disasters that hit South Miami

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into South MiamiDeclared for Dade County only
2022

Hurricane Ian

$4K to the City of South Miami for repairs
2017

Hurricane Irma

826 households applied for aid $276K aid approved $2.3M to the City of South Miami for repairs
2008

Tropical Storm Fay

$17K to the City of South Miami for repairs
2005

Hurricane Wilma

647 households applied for aid $295K aid approved $2.2M to the City of South Miami for repairs
2005

Tropical Storm Rita

$13K to the City of South Miami for repairs
2005

Hurricane Katrina

$1.6M to the City of South Miami for repairs
2004

Hurricane Jeanne

$13K to the City of South Miami for repairs
2004

Hurricane Frances

79 households applied for aid $164K aid approved $88K to the City of South Miami for repairs
2003

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

22 households applied for aid $5K aid approved
2000

Severe Storms and Flooding

$699K to the City of South Miami for repairs
1999

Fl-Hurricane Irene-Dr-Req

$90K to the City of South Miami for repairs
1999

Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations

$19K to the City of South Miami for repairs
Dade County has had 35 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.
Around South Miami

South Miami and the towns around it

Glenvar Heights: High, mostly hurricanesPinecrest: High, mostly inland floodingKendall: High, mostly inland floodingOlympia Heights: High, mostly hurricanesCoral Terrace: High, mostly hurricanesCoral Gables: High, mostly hurricanesPalmetto Bay: High, mostly inland floodingSouth Miami: Moderate, mostly hurricanes South MiamiGlenvar HeightsPinecrest
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Pinecrestmostly inland floodingHigh
Glenvar Heightsmostly hurricanesHigh
South Miamimostly 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. South Miami covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to South Miami’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of South 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 South Miami total about $2.3M 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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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01
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