Palm Beach County, Florida Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · FL
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 99th
Palm Beach County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 99.2, 99th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $519M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Palm Beach County carries a high composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 99.2 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $287M in expected annual loss and about 0.33 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $9M in expected annual loss and about 96.31 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at High risk — $179M in expected annual loss and about 2.07 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $519M in expected annual loss for a population of 1.49M.
Beyond physical exposure, Palm Beach County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
History supports the rating: Palm Beach County has received 41 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 25 for hurricane events and 5 for freezing events. The most recent was Hurricane Milton (hurricane), declared in October 2024.
Among 67 Florida counties, Palm Beach County ranks #3 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.33 / yr | $287M |
| Lightning | Very High | 96.31 / yr | $9M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 2.07 / yr | $179M |
| Heat Wave | High | 4.67 / yr | $13M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $3M |
| Drought | High | 17.38 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | High | 1.53 / yr | $9M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 2.91 / yr | $8M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.98 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.97 / yr | $7M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.24 / yr | $10K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $173K |
| Hail | Low | 0.96 / yr | $176K |
| 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
Palm Beach County has received 41 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Hurricane Milton in October 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (25), Freezing (5), Severe Storm (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 Palm Beach County?
Palm Beach County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.2 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 Palm Beach County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $287M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $9M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $179M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Palm Beach County compare to other Florida counties?
Palm Beach County ranks #3 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Palm Beach County had?
FEMA records 41 federal disaster declarations for Palm Beach County since 1965, most often 25 for hurricane events and 5 for freezing 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. Palm Beach County's $519M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.