St. Lucie County

Florida — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

High

Composite Risk Score

96.1

National percentile: 96th

St. Lucie County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 96.1, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $193M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $193M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 329K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hurricane
Very High $148M/yr
Lightning
Very High $3M/yr
Strong Wind
High $2M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hurricane Very High 0.33 / yr $148M
Lightning Very High 84.09 / yr $3M
Strong Wind High 0.59 / yr $2M
Riverine Flood Medium 0.46 / yr $33M
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $764K
Tornado Medium 0.35 / yr $4M
Heat Wave Medium 2.38 / yr $1M
Coastal Flood Medium 1.11 / yr $703K
Drought Medium 20.07 / yr $353K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $135K
Hail Very Low 0.90 / yr $103K
Cold Wave Low 2.48 / yr $321K
Landslide Very Low 0.06 / yr $51
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 St. Lucie County?

St. Lucie County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.1 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 St. Lucie County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $148M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $3M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does St. Lucie County compare to other Florida counties?

St. Lucie County ranks #15 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. St. Lucie County's $193M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.