Flooding in West Palm Beach, FL: the figures
Census, FEMA and NOAA figures for the West Palm Beach area, and what to do with them.
In West Palm Beach's ZIP codes, the average building payment on a flood claim was $41,386 over 2016 to 2025, compared with $90,796 across Florida.
- Calls answered 24/7
- Written estimate before work starts
- Water removal, drying and repair
Your call, step by step
Call (833) 728-2327
Say what is wet, where the water came from and whether it is still running. The call is answered any hour.
Stop the source
If water is still coming in, you are walked through the shutoff valve or the breaker first.
Inspection and written estimate
The crew checks the water category, measures moisture in walls and floors, photographs the damage and writes the estimate before work starts.
Written for homeowners in the West Palm Beach area.
50% of homes in West Palm Beach are rented, against 30% across Palm Beach County. If you rent, tell your landlord or property manager about the leak right away.
What the flood figures say for West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach has a low flood record for a Florida city. FEMA flood insurance records show 1.3 claims per 1,000 homes from 2016 to 2025, under Palm Beach County's 1.6 and far under Florida's 19.8. The average building payment was $41,386, near the county's $43,174.
Rain is the more frequent source. NOAA's climate normals count 18 days a year with an inch of rain or more, matching the county and above the state's 17. County storm reports logged flash flooding or flooding on 42 days from 2016 to 2025. FEMA's National Risk Index puts yearly inland flood loss at $51 per $100,000 of building value and hurricane loss at $94. Since 2000 the county has seen 14 major disaster declarations for floods and storms.
Outside water is Category 3, whether it comes from a storm or a flooded street. It carries soil and sewage, so the restoration crew removes the drywall, insulation and flooring it reached. Of all county homes, 13.0% carry federal flood insurance, FEMA's records show. A call to your insurance company will show what your policy covers. With 50% of homes rented, tenants and landlords should each photograph what is theirs.
FEMA and NOAA figures for West Palm Beach
Figures for West Palm Beach, home to about 119,508 people.
FEMA's National Risk Index expects inland flooding to cost about $51 a year for every $100,000 of building value in West Palm Beach's ZIP codes.
42% of homes in West Palm Beach are in buildings with five or more units.
In West Palm Beach, 12% of homes were built before 1950, when walls were often finished in plaster rather than drywall.
- 50% Homes that are rentedPalm Beach County: 30%
- 60,786 Housing units
- 119,508 Residents
- 51 Yearly inland flood loss per $100,000 of building valuePalm Beach County: 63
- 42% Homes in buildings with 5 or more unitsPalm Beach County: 31%
- 12% Homes built before 1950Palm Beach County: 3%
- 39% Homes built before 1980Palm Beach County: 34%
- 8% Homes kept for seasonal or occasional usePalm Beach County: 10%
- 1% Mobile and manufactured homesPalm Beach County: 3%
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates; FEMA OpenFEMA, FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, claims from 2016 to 2025 (not endorsed by FEMA); FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Residential Penetration Rates v1 (not endorsed by FEMA); FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, December 2025 (not endorsed by FEMA); NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, nearest weather station; FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 (not endorsed by FEMA); NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 2016 to 2025.
Getting ready in West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach gets 18 days a year with an inch of rain or more, and storm reports for Palm Beach County show flash flooding or flooding on 42 days from 2016 to 2025. Before the rainy season, clear out the downspouts and extend them so water lands well away from the foundation, and check that soil and pavers slope away from the walls. Census figures show 12% of homes here were built before 1950, and older lots often have low spots where water collects against the house.
Test any sump pump or garage drain with a bucket of water, and add battery backup in case a hurricane cuts power. Move papers, photos and electronics off the floor. With 50% of homes rented and 42% in buildings with 5 or more units, tenants should know who to call about building drains. Look up your address on the FEMA flood map, since yearly inland flood loss here is $51 per $100,000 of building value on FEMA's National Risk Index. Call your insurance company before hurricane season to ask what your policy covers.
When water gets in, cut power to wet rooms if it is safe, and call. Storm water is Category 3, so wet drywall, insulation and pad usually come out before drying starts. Water mitigation within 24 to 48 hours matters because mold can start in that window. Shops and offices need water damage restoration for businesses on the same schedule, and the phone line for the West Palm Beach area is answered 24/7.
Getting your paperwork ready in West Palm Beach
Get ready in West Palm Beach before the water does. Check your address on FEMA's flood maps, record a short video of every room, and keep policy numbers and the location of the main shutoff and breaker panel on paper. Store important papers above the basement floor. When water comes in, take photos of the water line before anything is moved; those pictures matter for the cleanup plan and for any claim. Laminate and hardwood under floodwater often need subfloor water damage repair once drying ends.
West Palm Beach flood questions
What does a FEMA flood risk rating mean for my West Palm Beach home?
How do I keep storm water out of a West Palm Beach basement?
Is flood cleanup different from other water damage?
What should I do after floodwater gets into my West Palm Beach home?
Where can I check the flood zone for a West Palm Beach address?
More West Palm Beach guides
West Palm Beach water damage cost guide
Price ranges, cost drivers and estimate checks for West Palm Beach homes.
West Palm Beach guide to the first hour after water damage
The first hour after a leak or flood in West Palm Beach: what to shut off, what to photograph and what to move.
guide to burst and frozen pipes for West Palm Beach
Why pipes burst in West Palm Beach homes, what freezing nights and older plumbing mean, and what to do first.
One call for water damage in West Palm Beach
Calls answered 24/7. The estimate is in writing before work begins.