Hillsborough County
Florida — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 99th
Hillsborough County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.8, 99th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $495M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 97.58 / yr | $8M |
| Tornado | Very High | 1.31 / yr | $77M |
| Cold Wave | Very High | 4.14 / yr | $54M |
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.25 / yr | $178M |
| Hail | High | 1.83 / yr | $6M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 2.14 / yr | $146M |
| Heat Wave | High | 3.51 / yr | $9M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $4M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.69 / yr | $8M |
| Drought | Medium | 17.15 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.87 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $735K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.13 / yr | $4K |
| 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 Hillsborough County?
Hillsborough County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.8 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 Hillsborough County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $8M EAL), Tornado (Very High, $77M EAL), Cold Wave (Very High, $54M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Hillsborough County compare to other Florida counties?
Hillsborough County ranks #6 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. Hillsborough County's $495M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.