Putnam County, Florida Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · FL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 80th
Putnam County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 79.7, 80th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $29M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Putnam County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 79.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 80th 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 High risk — $11M in expected annual loss and about 0.25 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $599K in expected annual loss and about 81.18 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $29M in expected annual loss for a population of 73K.
Beyond physical exposure, Putnam County has a 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: Putnam County has received 41 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including 19 for hurricane events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Railroad Complex Fire (fire), declared in April 2026.
Among 67 Florida counties, Putnam County ranks #41 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.25 / yr | $11M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | High | 81.18 / yr | $599K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.51 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.64 / yr | $12M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 3.23 / yr | $549K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.16 / yr | $616K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 0.81 / yr | $365K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $185K |
| Drought | Low | 18.79 / yr | $34K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.21 / yr | $270K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $188 |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.19 / yr | $33K |
| 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
Putnam County has received 41 federal disaster declarations since 1968, most recently Railroad Complex Fire in April 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (19), Severe Storm (7), Fire (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Fire | Railroad Complex Fire |
| October 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| October 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane 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 |
| November 2022 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Nicole |
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 Putnam County?
Putnam County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 79.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 80th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Putnam County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $11M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $1M EAL), Lightning (High, $599K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Putnam County compare to other Florida counties?
Putnam County ranks #41 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Putnam County had?
FEMA records 41 federal disaster declarations for Putnam County since 1968, most often 19 for hurricane events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Railroad Complex 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. Putnam County's $29M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.