Levy County, Florida Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · FL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 66th
Levy County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 66.1, 66th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $15M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Levy County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 66.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 66th 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 hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 0.26 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $749K in expected annual loss and about 87.94 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $552K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $15M in expected annual loss for a population of 43K.
Beyond physical exposure, Levy 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: Levy County has received 44 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 21 for hurricane events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Cow Creek Fire (fire), declared in April 2026.
Among 67 Florida counties, Levy County ranks #48 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.26 / yr | $6M |
| Lightning | High | 87.94 / yr | $749K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $552K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.75 / yr | $792K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 3.64 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.63 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.85 / yr | $259K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.29 / yr | $4M |
| Drought | Low | 22.76 / yr | $41K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.70 / yr | $212K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $62K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $43 |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.17 / yr | $9K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $2K |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Levy County has received 44 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Cow Creek Fire in April 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (21), Severe Storm (7), Fire (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Fire | Cow Creek Fire |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 44 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Levy County?
Levy County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 66.1 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 66th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Levy County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $6M EAL), Lightning (High, $749K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $552K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Levy County compare to other Florida counties?
Levy County ranks #48 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Levy County had?
FEMA records 44 federal disaster declarations for Levy County since 1972, most often 21 for hurricane events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Cow Creek Fire, declared in April 2026.
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. Levy County's $15M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.