Natural hazards · West Melbourne

West Melbourne, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in West Melbourne comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 110 claims here since 1995. 14 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is West Melbourne?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in West Melbourne to be higher than in 88% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes76%Inland flooding18%Everything else6%

By hazard

What West Melbourne faces

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

Hurricanes

76% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Inland flooding

18% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 30% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingIce 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 West Melbourne flood?

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

110paid claims since 1995

$4.0Mpaid to owners

12homes flooded more than once

19952026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Fay: 72 claims, $2.6M
Hurricane Irma: 18 claims, $1.2M
Hurricane Jeanne: 5 claims, $9K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Brevard County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

3buildings retrofitted against wind

Disasters that hit West Melbourne

14 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into West MelbourneDeclared for Brevard County only

2024

Hurricane Milton

67 households applied for aid $17K aid approved $91K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs

2022

Hurricane Nicole

4 households applied for aid $3K aid approved $61K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs

2022

Hurricane Ian

52 households applied for aid $25K aid approved

2019

Hurricane Dorian

$51K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

772 households applied for aid $317K aid approved $221K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs

2016

Hurricane Matthew

36 households applied for aid $313 aid approved $39K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs

2008

Tropical Storm Fay

205 households applied for aid $637K aid approved $109K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs

2005

Hurricane Wilma

12 households applied for aid $7K aid approved $12K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs

2004

Hurricane Jeanne

320 households applied for aid $217K aid approved $102K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

4 households applied for aid

2004

Hurricane Frances

415 households applied for aid $227K aid approved $194K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley

7 households applied for aid $990 aid approved $9K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs

1999

Fl-Hurricane Irene-Dr-Req

$9K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$25K to the City of West Melbourne for repairs

Brevard County has had 35 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and fires.

Around West Melbourne

West Melbourne and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Melbourne Villagemostly hurricanesVery high

Melbournemostly hurricanesVery high

Palm Baymostly hurricanesVery high

West Melbournemostly hurricanesVery high

June Parkmostly hurricanesVery high

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. West Melbourne covers 5 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to West Melbourne’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of West Melbourne. 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 West Melbourne total about $17.2M 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.