Marion County
Florida — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
Marion County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.7, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $128M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 88.95 / yr | $3M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.25 / yr | $53M |
| Tornado | High | 1.10 / yr | $15M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $5M |
| Strong Wind | High | 1.16 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.96 / yr | $42M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.80 / yr | $6M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 3.07 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $417K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.20 / yr | $2K |
| Drought | Low | 16.07 / yr | $69K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.98 / yr | $1K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.18 / yr | $55K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Marion County?
Marion County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.7 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 95th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Marion County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $3M EAL), Hurricane (High, $53M EAL), Tornado (High, $15M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Marion County compare to other Florida counties?
Marion County ranks #21 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. Marion County's $128M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.