Sarasota County
Florida — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
Sarasota County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.2, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $273M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 96.18 / yr | $5M |
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.23 / yr | $180M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.18 / yr | $67M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.65 / yr | $7M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | High | 0.88 / yr | $7M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 3.02 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.62 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $658 |
| Drought | Low | 18.58 / yr | $41K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $85K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 3.16 / yr | $351K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.28 / yr | $59K |
| 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 Sarasota County?
Sarasota County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.2 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 98th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Sarasota County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $5M EAL), Hurricane (Very High, $180M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $67M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Sarasota County compare to other Florida counties?
Sarasota County ranks #10 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. Sarasota County's $273M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.