Glades County, Florida Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · FL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 48th
Glades County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 48.0, 48th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Glades County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 48.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 48th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $569K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.29 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $544K in expected annual loss and about 99.52 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 12K.
Beyond physical exposure, Glades County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Glades County has received 37 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 20 for hurricane events and 5 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Milton (hurricane), declared in October 2024.
Among 67 Florida counties, Glades County ranks #54 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Low | 0.01 / yr | $569K |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.29 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | High | 99.52 / yr | $544K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.60 / yr | $555K |
| Drought | Low | 21.02 / yr | $138K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.85 / yr | $459K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.50 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 3.63 / yr | $80K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.71 / yr | $148K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $35 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.98 / yr | $11K |
| 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 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Glades County has received 37 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Hurricane Milton in October 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (20), Fire (5), Tropical Storm (3).
| 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 |
| December 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nicole |
| November 2022 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Nicole |
| September 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| September 2022 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Ian |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 37 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Glades County?
Glades County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 48.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 48th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Glades County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Low, $569K EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $3M EAL), Lightning (High, $544K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Glades County compare to other Florida counties?
Glades County ranks #54 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Glades County had?
FEMA records 37 federal disaster declarations for Glades County since 1965, most often 20 for hurricane events and 5 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. Glades County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.