Brevard County, Florida Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · FL
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
Brevard County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.4, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $389M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Brevard County carries a high composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 98.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 98th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $281M in expected annual loss and about 0.28 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 73.00 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $8M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $389M in expected annual loss for a population of 606K.
Beyond physical exposure, Brevard County has a medium 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 federal record bears this out: Brevard County has received 45 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 24 for hurricane events and 6 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Milton (hurricane), declared in October 2024.
Among 67 Florida counties, Brevard County ranks #7 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.28 / yr | $281M |
| Lightning | Very High | 73.00 / yr | $6M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $8M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.84 / yr | $3M |
| Tornado | High | 0.79 / yr | $12M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 0.68 / yr | $73M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 1.86 / yr | $2M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 1.05 / yr | $3M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $1K |
| Drought | Low | 18.89 / yr | $133K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $225K |
| Hail | Low | 1.68 / yr | $144K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 3.33 / yr | $419K |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Brevard County has received 45 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Hurricane Milton in October 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (24), Fire (6), Tropical Storm (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| October 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| October 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 2023 | Hurricane | Hurricane Idalia |
| August 2023 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Idalia |
| December 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nicole |
| November 2022 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Nicole |
| September 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| September 2022 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Ian |
Showing the 10 most recent of 45 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Brevard County?
Brevard County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.4 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 Brevard County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $281M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $6M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $8M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Brevard County compare to other Florida counties?
Brevard County ranks #7 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Brevard County had?
FEMA records 45 federal disaster declarations for Brevard County since 1972, most often 24 for hurricane events and 6 for fire 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. Brevard County's $389M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.