Vega Baja Municipio, Puerto Rico Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · PR
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 0th
Vega Baja Municipio faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 0.0, 0th national percentile), driven primarily by a mix of natural hazards exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $58M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Vega Baja Municipio at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 0.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 0th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
No individual hazard records measurable expected loss in Vega Baja Municipio in the current dataset, which keeps its overall expected annual loss low at $58M.
Beyond physical exposure, Vega Baja Municipio has a very low 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The federal record bears this out: Vega Baja Municipio has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1970, including 15 for hurricane events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Tropical Storm Ernesto (severe storm), declared in August 2024.
Among 78 Puerto Rico counties, Vega Baja Municipio ranks #74 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.21 / yr | $26K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $14M |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $846 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $18M |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $5M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 1.16 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Very Low | 65.21 / yr | $676K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $275 |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $34K |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $19M |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Vega Baja Municipio has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1970, most recently Tropical Storm Ernesto in August 2024. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (15), Flood (6), Severe Storm (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| August 2024 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Ernesto |
| September 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Fiona |
| September 2022 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Fiona |
| March 2022 | Flood | Severe Storm, Flooding, and Landslides |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Laura |
| July 2020 | Hurricane | Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| January 2020 | Earthquake | Earthquakes |
| August 2019 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Dorian |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Vega Baja Municipio?
Vega Baja Municipio has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 0.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 0th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Vega Baja Municipio?
The three highest-rated hazards are Avalanche (Very Low, $0 EAL), Coastal Flood (Very Low, $26K EAL), Cold Wave (Very Low, $0 EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Vega Baja Municipio compare to other Puerto Rico counties?
Vega Baja Municipio ranks #74 of 78 Puerto Rico counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Vega Baja Municipio had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Vega Baja Municipio since 1970, most often 15 for hurricane events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Tropical Storm Ernesto, declared in August 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. Vega Baja Municipio's $58M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.