Hendry County, Florida Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · FL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 79th
Hendry County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 78.7, 79th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $22M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Hendry County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 78.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 79th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 102.39 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $10M in expected annual loss and about 0.30 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $22M in expected annual loss for a population of 39K.
Beyond physical exposure, Hendry 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 federal record bears this out: Hendry County has received 38 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 18 for hurricane events and 5 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Milton (hurricane), declared in October 2024.
Among 67 Florida counties, Hendry County ranks #42 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 102.39 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.30 / yr | $10M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Medium | 19.66 / yr | $647K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.87 / yr | $810K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 2.43 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.25 / yr | $6M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 3.53 / yr | $255K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.94 / yr | $435K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $14K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $40 |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.96 / yr | $15K |
| 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
Hendry County has received 38 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Hurricane Milton in October 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (18), Fire (5), Freezing (5).
| 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 38 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Hendry County?
Hendry County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 78.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 79th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Hendry County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Hurricane (High, $10M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Hendry County compare to other Florida counties?
Hendry County ranks #42 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Hendry County had?
FEMA records 38 federal disaster declarations for Hendry County since 1965, most often 18 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. Hendry County's $22M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.