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Natural hazard risk in Broward County, Florida

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively High (score 99.4 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$648.0 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1965
40[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$457.9 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
146[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates overall natural hazard risk for Broward County as Relatively High, with a score of 99.4 out of 100[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are lightning, hurricane and inland flooding[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards at $648.0 million a year for Broward County[1]. This is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid. For the largest shares of that loss, FEMA's values put inland flooding first at $289.0 million a year, then hurricane at $280.4 million a year, then heat wave at $20.5 million a year[7]. FEMA rates hurricane risk Very High compared with other US counties[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability Relatively Moderate, which describes how susceptible social groups are to harm from natural hazards[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience Relatively Moderate, which describes a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10]. FEMA says the index is not meant to predict next year's damage[11].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
LightningVery High$12.0 million[12]
HurricaneVery High$280.4 million[8]
Inland FloodingVery High$289.0 million[13]
Heat WaveRelatively High$20.5 million[14]
WildfireRelatively Moderate$6.5 million[15]
Coastal FloodingVery High$14.1 million[16]
TornadoRelatively High$13.6 million[17]
Cold WaveRelatively High$10.4 million[18]
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$1.2 million[19]
LandslideRelatively Low$3,940[20]
EarthquakeVery Low$142,000[21]
DroughtRelatively Low$34,000[22]
HailRelatively Low$124,000[23]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, ice storm, volcanic activity[24].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Moderate55.3[9]
Community resilienceRelatively Moderate44.1[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Very High and coastal flooding risk Very High compared with other US counties[13][16]. OpenFEMA lists 125,204 residential flood insurance contracts in force in Broward County as of 2026-08-03, out of 652,397 residential structures[25]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 76.1% of homes are insured[25]. OpenFEMA NFIP claims data lists 35,049 claims for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $457.9 million in total[3]. For the flood zone of a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[26].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[13] Very High, $289.0 million expected loss a year
Coastal Flooding, FEMA risk rating[16] Very High, $14.1 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[25] 125,204 of 652,397 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[25] 123,414, of which 93,955 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 35,049 filed, $457.9 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[26]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 40 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Broward County since 1965[2]. Of these, 25 were hurricane declarations[2]. The most recent is DR-4834-FL for Hurricane Milton, declared 2024-10-11[27]. NOAA's tornado database records 146 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Broward County, since 1965
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 25
Freezing[2] 5
Severe Storm[2] 4
Fire[2] 3
Tornado[2] 1
Flood[2] 1
Tropical Storm[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4834-FL[27] Hurricane Milton 2024-10-11
EM-3622-FL[27] Hurricane Milton 2024-10-07
DR-4709-FL[27] Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding 2023-04-27
DR-4680-FL[27] Hurricane Nicole 2022-12-13
EM-3587-FL[27] Tropical Storm Nicole 2022-11-08

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Hurricanes

Before

  • Know your hurricane risk, including rain, wind and tornadoes far inland from landfall.
  • Learn your evacuation zone and routes, and practice them with your household and pets.
  • Keep insurance policies and ID current, with password-protected digital copies.
  • Clear drains and gutters, bring in outdoor furniture and consider hurricane shutters.
  • Keep your phone charged, buy backup chargers and gather supplies, including medication and pet supplies.

During

  • If you are in a mandatory evacuation zone and officials order an evacuation, leave right away.
  • For high winds, take shelter in a designated storm shelter or an interior room.
  • If you are trapped by flooding, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, hurricanes

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

Questions people ask

Is Broward County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Very High and coastal flooding risk Very High compared with other US counties[13][16]. FEMA estimates inland flooding Expected Annual Loss at $289.0 million a year[13].
Is Broward County at risk of hurricanes?
FEMA rates hurricane risk Very High for Broward County compared with other US counties, with Expected Annual Loss of $280.4 million a year[8].
Is Broward County at risk of tornadoes?
FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively High compared with other US counties[17]. NOAA's tornado database records 146 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4].
How many disasters have been declared in Broward County?
OpenFEMA lists 40 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Broward County since 1965[2].
How do I check my flood zone in Broward County?
Look up your address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[26]. County-level ratings do not give the flood zone of one address[26].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Broward County is $648.0 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively High, score 99.3). Of this, buildings account for $567.2 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $79.8... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 40 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Broward County since 1965 (25 major disaster, 15 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 25, freezing 5, severe storm 4, fire 3, tornado 1, flood 1, tropical storm 1. Biological (such... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 35,049 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Broward County, 17,451 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $457.9 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 146 recorded tornadoes touched Broward County. The strongest were rated F3 (most recent of them on 1980-03-01). 3 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-10-09. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Broward County is Relatively High, with a Risk Index score of 99.4 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Broward County are lightning (100.0, Very High), hurricane (99.8, Very High), inland flooding (99.4, Very High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores; FEMA's... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Broward County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($289.0 million a year), hurricane ($280.4 million a year), heat wave ($20.5 million a year), out of $648.0 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Broward County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $280.4 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 0.29 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the... FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Broward County is Relatively Moderate (score 55.3). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Broward County is Relatively Moderate (score 44.1). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Broward County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 100.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $12.0 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 99.35 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Broward County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $289.0 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 2.46 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 26 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Broward County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 98.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $20.5 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 5.71 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Broward County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 97.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $6.5 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0112 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), coastal flooding in Broward County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 97.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $14.1 million a year (rating Very High). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 2.6162 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Broward County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 96.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $13.6 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.8 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Broward County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 95.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $10.4 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 1.48 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Broward County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 80.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.2 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.02 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38... FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Broward County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 66.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3,940 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Broward County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 40.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $142,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0002 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Broward County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 34.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $34,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 15.25 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Broward County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 34.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $124,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.79 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Broward County: avalanche, ice storm, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  25. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 125,204 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Broward County, out of 652,397 residential structures, a penetration rate of 19.2%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 123,414 residential structures and 93,955... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  26. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  27. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.