Broward County
Florida — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 99th
Broward County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 99.5, 99th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $648M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 99.35 / yr | $12M |
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.29 / yr | $280M |
| Riverine Flood | Very High | 2.46 / yr | $289M |
| Heat Wave | High | 5.71 / yr | $20M |
| Coastal Flood | Very High | 2.62 / yr | $14M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $7M |
| Tornado | High | 0.80 / yr | $14M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.48 / yr | $10M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.02 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.15 / yr | $4K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $142K |
| Drought | Low | 15.25 / yr | $34K |
| Hail | Low | 0.79 / yr | $124K |
| 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 Broward County?
Broward County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.5 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 99th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Broward County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $12M EAL), Hurricane (Very High, $280M EAL), Riverine Flood (Very High, $289M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Broward County compare to other Florida counties?
Broward County ranks #2 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. Broward County's $648M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.