St. Lucie County, Florida Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · FL
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
St. Lucie County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 96.1, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $193M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
St. Lucie County carries a high composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 96.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 96th 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 — $148M 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 — $3M in expected annual loss and about 84.09 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.59 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $193M in expected annual loss for a population of 329K.
Beyond physical exposure, St. Lucie County has a medium 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The federal record bears this out: St. Lucie County has received 38 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 24 for hurricane events and 4 for fire events. The most recent was Hurricane Milton (hurricane), declared in October 2024.
Among 67 Florida counties, St. Lucie County ranks #15 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.33 / yr | $148M |
| Lightning | Very High | 84.09 / yr | $3M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.59 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.46 / yr | $33M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $764K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.35 / yr | $4M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 2.38 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 1.11 / yr | $703K |
| Drought | Medium | 20.07 / yr | $353K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $135K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.90 / yr | $103K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.48 / yr | $321K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $51 |
| 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
St. Lucie County has received 38 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Hurricane Milton in October 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (24), Fire (4), Freezing (4).
| 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 38 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for St. Lucie County?
St. Lucie County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.1 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in St. Lucie County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $148M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $3M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does St. Lucie County compare to other Florida counties?
St. Lucie County ranks #15 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has St. Lucie County had?
FEMA records 38 federal disaster declarations for St. Lucie County since 1965, most often 24 for hurricane events and 4 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. St. Lucie County's $193M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.