Baker County, Florida Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · FL
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 13th
Baker County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 13.3, 13th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Baker County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 13.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 13th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Baker County's expected losses come from wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $328K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.21 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $587K in expected annual loss and about 4.11 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $6M in expected annual loss for a population of 28K.
Beyond physical exposure, Baker County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Baker County has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 17 for hurricane events and 9 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Milton (hurricane), declared in October 2024.
Among 67 Florida counties, Baker County ranks #65 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $328K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.21 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.11 / yr | $587K |
| Lightning | Low | 80.44 / yr | $234K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $132K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.30 / yr | $626K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.61 / yr | $3M |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.84 / yr | $202K |
| Drought | Very Low | 17.93 / yr | $2K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.00 / yr | $29K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.16 / yr | $65K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $4 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $2K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / 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 |
Disaster History
Baker County has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Hurricane Milton in October 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (17), Severe Storm (9), Fire (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| October 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| October 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| June 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| August 2023 | Hurricane | Hurricane Idalia |
| August 2023 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Idalia |
| December 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nicole |
| September 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
Showing the 10 most recent of 39 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Baker County?
Baker County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 13.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 13th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Baker County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Low, $328K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $587K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Baker County compare to other Florida counties?
Baker County ranks #65 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Baker County had?
FEMA records 39 federal disaster declarations for Baker County since 1973, most often 17 for hurricane events and 9 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Milton, declared in October 2024.
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. Baker County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.