Taylor County, Florida Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · FL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 65th
Taylor County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 65.4, 65th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $16M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Taylor County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 65.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 65th 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 Medium risk — $8M in expected annual loss and about 0.27 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $306K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and coastal flood (seawater inundation from storm surge, high tides, and rising sea levels) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 3.75 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $16M in expected annual loss for a population of 22K.
Beyond physical exposure, Taylor County has a very high 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). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: Taylor County has received 40 federal disaster declarations since 1993, including 22 for hurricane events and 8 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Milton (hurricane), declared in October 2024.
Among 67 Florida counties, Taylor County ranks #49 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.27 / yr | $8M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $306K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.75 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 82.67 / yr | $392K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.69 / yr | $834K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 6.54 / yr | $284K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.68 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.98 / yr | $260K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.48 / yr | $493K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $83K |
| Drought | Very Low | 11.64 / yr | $576 |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $30 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.20 / yr | $6K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.82 / yr | $2K |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Taylor County has received 40 federal disaster declarations since 1993, most recently Hurricane Milton in October 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (22), Severe Storm (8), Tropical Storm (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| October 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| October 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| June 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| August 2023 | Hurricane | Hurricane Idalia |
| August 2023 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Idalia |
| December 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nicole |
Showing the 10 most recent of 40 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Taylor County?
Taylor County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 65.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 65th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Taylor County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $8M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $306K EAL), Coastal Flood (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Taylor County compare to other Florida counties?
Taylor County ranks #49 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Taylor County had?
FEMA records 40 federal disaster declarations for Taylor County since 1993, most often 22 for hurricane events and 8 for severe storm 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. Taylor County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.