Walton County, Florida Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · FL
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 89th
Walton County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 88.6, 89th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $68M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Walton County is medium, with a National Risk Index score of 88.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 89th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. 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 High risk — $47M in expected annual loss and about 0.24 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 83.28 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 1.03 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $68M in expected annual loss for a population of 75K.
Beyond physical exposure, Walton County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: Walton County has received 42 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 22 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene (hurricane), declared in September 2024.
Among 67 Florida counties, Walton County ranks #33 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.24 / yr | $47M |
| Lightning | High | 83.28 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Medium | 1.03 / yr | $5M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $255K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 6.03 / yr | $808K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.43 / yr | $11M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 2.06 / yr | $605K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.89 / yr | $947K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $209K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $897 |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.63 / yr | $377K |
| Drought | Very Low | 20.61 / yr | $7K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.29 / yr | $19K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $13K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.95 / yr | $48K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Walton County has received 42 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (22), Severe Storm (6), Fire (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| September 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| September 2022 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Ian |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Fred |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| May 2020 | Fire | Mussett Bayou Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 42 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Walton County?
Walton County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 88.6 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 89th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Walton County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $47M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $5M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Walton County compare to other Florida counties?
Walton County ranks #33 of 67 Florida counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Walton County had?
FEMA records 42 federal disaster declarations for Walton County since 1975, most often 22 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Hurricane Helene, declared in September 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. Walton County's $68M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.