Lee County, Florida Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · FL
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 99th
Lee County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 99.0, 99th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $433M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Lee County is high, with a National Risk Index score of 99.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 99th 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.
Most of Lee County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $300M in expected annual loss and about 0.25 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $8M in expected annual loss and about 101.95 events per year; and coastal flood (seawater inundation from storm surge, high tides, and rising sea levels) at Very High risk — $14M in expected annual loss and about 2.92 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $433M in expected annual loss for a population of 760K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lee County has a 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: Lee County has received 45 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 21 for hurricane events and 6 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Milton (hurricane), declared in October 2024.
Among 67 Florida counties, Lee County ranks #4 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.25 / yr | $300M |
| Lightning | Very High | 101.95 / yr | $8M |
| Coastal Flood | Very High | 2.92 / yr | $14M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.43 / yr | $95M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $5M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 2.44 / yr | $3M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.89 / yr | $5M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 2.37 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.37 / yr | $648K |
| Drought | Low | 7.76 / yr | $131K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $957 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $80K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.61 / yr | $69K |
| 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
Lee County has received 45 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Hurricane Milton in October 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (21), Fire (6), Tropical Storm (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| October 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| October 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 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 |
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 Lee County?
Lee County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.0 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 Lee County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $300M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $8M EAL), Coastal Flood (Very High, $14M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lee County compare to other Florida counties?
Lee County ranks #4 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Lee County had?
FEMA records 45 federal disaster declarations for Lee County since 1965, most often 21 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. Lee County's $433M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.