Volusia flood claims equal 64.6% of annual income, study finds
Volusia County placed third in Florida for the ratio of median paid household flood claims outside FEMA high-risk zones to annual median household income. The Anidjar & Levine analysis calculated the county ratio at 64.6 percent, behind only Gulf County at 133.2 percent and Bay County at 78.7 percent.
Volusia recorded 29.2 percent of its classifiable residential flood claims outside current high-risk zones, more than double the statewide share of 11.4 percent. Its median positive paid outside-zone household claim reached $45,266, which exceeded the corresponding Florida median by $19,140. The county median annual household income stood at $70,044.
The same study ranked 29 Florida counties that each had at least 50 qualifying positive paid household claims. Manatee County followed Volusia at 55.4 percent, Escambia County at 53.9 percent, Lee County at 44.9 percent, Osceola County at 43.9 percent, Polk County at 40.8 percent, Duval County at 40.3 percent, and Santa Rosa County at 37.8 percent. Volusia's median payment therefore illustrates substantial insured damage beyond officially designated high-risk areas.
Volusia County's Transform386 program has opened public comments on the proposed Glen Eagles Acquisition and Stormwater Expansion project in DeLand. The plan would apply $727,500 in federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funding to acquire the properties at 2465 and 2475 South Glen Eagles Drive, demolish the existing townhomes, and expand a stormwater detention pond to increase water-storage capacity and reduce flooding in surrounding residential areas.
The public-comment period runs from October 30 through November 15, 2026. County project records show property owners are already in the buyout process while environmental review and construction planning continue. Volusia County has determined the proposed work would have no significant environmental impact and anticipates requesting HUD release of funds on or about November 15.
The DeLand project forms part of the larger Transform386 federal disaster-recovery program, which allocates $50 million to infrastructure projects and another $42.9 million to mitigation projects following Hurricane Ian. In October 2025 the Volusia County Council approved nearly $50 million for 14 flood mitigation and infrastructure projects, supported by almost $30 million in additional applicant contributions covering drainage improvements, stormwater storage, property acquisition, and essential infrastructure protection.
Selected Transform386 infrastructure grants include $1,342,308 for Deltona lake-level management and roadway flood mitigation, $4,934,196.81 for New Smyrna Beach Corbin Park drainage improvements, $8,600,000 for DeBary West Highbanks drainage system replacement, $8,789,861 for Ormond Beach Fleming Avenue pump station and force main, and $21,685,000 for multiple Port Orange stormwater drainage and retention projects. Listed amounts represent program grants rather than completed construction expenditures.
Nationally the study identified 138,288 residential NFIP claim records involving properties outside current designated high-risk zones during the study period. Primary residences accounted for 78.3 percent of Florida's outside-zone residential claim records, representing 13,523 records. The analysis compared historical insurance claims with current flood-zone designations and did not estimate the probability of future flooding at any individual property.
Standard NFIP building and contents policies do not include additional living expenses such as temporary housing. U.S. Census Bureau data placed national median gross rent at $1,413 per month and $1,669 in Florida. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that home damage does not automatically suspend mortgage-payment obligations, and homeowners must contact their servicer to discuss forbearance or repayment options.
Volusia residents have until November 15 to submit comments on the Glen Eagles acquisition and stormwater expansion proposal before the county seeks federal funding release.
