Pinellas County
Florida — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
Pinellas County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.2, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and coastal flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $303M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 94.42 / yr | $9M |
| Coastal Flood | Very High | 3.69 / yr | $25M |
| Tornado | Very High | 0.68 / yr | $33M |
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.23 / yr | $110M |
| Cold Wave | Very High | 3.14 / yr | $26M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.61 / yr | $91M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 3.04 / yr | $6M |
| Hail | High | 1.17 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $377K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $560K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.63 / yr | $706K |
| Drought | Very Low | 16.82 / yr | $4K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $73 |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Pinellas County?
Pinellas County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.2 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 98th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Pinellas County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $9M EAL), Coastal Flood (Very High, $25M EAL), Tornado (Very High, $33M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Pinellas County compare to other Florida counties?
Pinellas County ranks #9 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. Pinellas County's $303M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.