Indian River County

Florida — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

High

Composite Risk Score

95.6

National percentile: 96th

Indian River County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.6, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $163M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $163M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience High Capacity to recover
Population 160K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hurricane
Very High $132M/yr
Lightning
High $1M/yr
Wildfire
Low $863K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hurricane Very High 0.31 / yr $132M
Lightning High 77.49 / yr $1M
Wildfire Low 0.01 / yr $863K
Strong Wind High 0.65 / yr $1M
Riverine Flood Medium 0.50 / yr $23M
Tornado Medium 0.31 / yr $2M
Coastal Flood Medium 1.02 / yr $835K
Heat Wave Low 1.96 / yr $555K
Drought Low 22.99 / yr $283K
Cold Wave Low 2.77 / yr $530K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $78K
Landslide Very Low 0.05 / yr $45
Hail Very Low 1.19 / yr $36K
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 Indian River County?

Indian River County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.6 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Indian River County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $132M EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $863K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Indian River County compare to other Florida counties?

Indian River County ranks #17 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high 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. Indian River County's $163M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.