Hernando County

Florida — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Medium

Composite Risk Score

88.0

National percentile: 88th

Hernando County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 88.0, 88th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $60M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $60M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very Low Capacity to recover
Population 194K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hurricane
High $25M/yr
Lightning
High $1M/yr
Tornado
High $7M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hurricane High 0.27 / yr $25M
Lightning High 93.02 / yr $1M
Tornado High 0.57 / yr $7M
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $870K
Riverine Flood Medium 0.89 / yr $23M
Heat Wave Low 2.81 / yr $1M
Coastal Flood Medium 3.69 / yr $1M
Strong Wind Medium 1.00 / yr $775K
Cold Wave Low 3.38 / yr $456K
Landslide Very Low 0.06 / yr $396
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $65K
Drought Very Low 16.77 / yr $3K
Hail Very Low 1.98 / yr $32K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Ice Storm Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Winter Weather Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Hernando County?

Hernando County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 88.0 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 88th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Hernando County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $25M EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Tornado (High, $7M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Hernando County compare to other Florida counties?

Hernando County ranks #34 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Hernando County's $60M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.