Martin County, Florida Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · FL
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 94th
Martin County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.1, 94th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $119M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Martin County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 94.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 94th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Martin County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $92M in expected annual loss and about 0.31 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 89.85 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 $119M in expected annual loss for a population of 158K.
Beyond physical exposure, Martin County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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: Martin County has received 41 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 25 for hurricane events and 6 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Milton (hurricane), declared in October 2024.
Among 67 Florida counties, Martin County ranks #23 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.31 / yr | $92M |
| Lightning | High | 89.85 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.78 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.57 / yr | $18M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.42 / yr | $2M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 1.13 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.33 / yr | $656K |
| Drought | Low | 16.27 / yr | $242K |
| Hail | Low | 0.84 / yr | $128K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.30 / yr | $426K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $324 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $26K |
| 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
Martin County has received 41 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Hurricane Milton in October 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (25), Fire (6), Freezing (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| October 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| October 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| December 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nicole |
| November 2022 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Nicole |
| September 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| September 2022 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Ian |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| October 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
Showing the 10 most recent of 41 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Martin County?
Martin County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.1 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 94th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Martin County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $92M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Martin County compare to other Florida counties?
Martin County ranks #23 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Martin County had?
FEMA records 41 federal disaster declarations for Martin County since 1965, most often 25 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. Martin County's $119M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.