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FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Baker County Disaster Risk

Baker County, Florida

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

13th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#65

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

23th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 23% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 76% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 31% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 36% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Baker County, Florida

Baker County faces very low disaster risk

Baker County's composite risk score of 13.26 places it far below the U.S. average, earning a "Very Low" risk rating. This inland location shelters it from many of the coastal hazards that plague Florida's more exposed counties.

Lowest-risk county in Florida

Baker's score of 13.26 is dramatically lower than Florida's 75.74 state average, making it the safest county in the state. Only a handful of other inland Florida counties come close to Baker's favorable risk profile.

Safest in its region by far

Baker County (13.26) sits well below neighboring Bradford County (36.86) and dramatically safer than Alachua County (90.33). Its inland, northern location provides natural protection unavailable to Florida's coastal and central counties.

Wildfire and hurricane exposure worth monitoring

Despite very low overall risk, wildfire risk scores 76.21—Baker's highest hazard—reflecting Florida's dry season vulnerability. Hurricane risk (74.47) remains present even this far inland, though the county's small population limits overall exposure.

Standard homeowners insurance generally sufficient

Baker County residents benefit from exceptional safety; standard homeowners insurance typically covers the county's modest risks. Verify your policy includes wildfire coverage if you live near forested areas, though flood insurance is generally low-priority here.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Baker County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    76th percentile
  2. #2
    HurricanePrepare
    74th percentile
  3. #3
    EarthquakePrepare
    36th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Baker County

Risk Verdict

Baker County carries a low natural disaster risk burden, scoring at the 13th percentile under the FEMA National Risk Index. Residents of Baker County can use the 13th percentile ranking as a baseline, while recognizing that individual properties may still lie in specific hazard zones that differ from the county average.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Baker County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 76th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Hurricane ranks second at the 74th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (36th percentile), tornado (31th percentile), flood (23th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Wildfire ranks as Baker County's primary hazard at the 76th percentile nationally. For Baker County households in high-WUI areas, go-bag readiness — the ability to leave within 15 minutes — is more important than shelter-in-place planning for most residential properties. Alongside wildfire, hurricane at the 74th percentile nationally means a multi-season preparedness mindset — fire season and flood or storm season often require different household plans. Baker County county's local emergency management office publishes community-specific wildfire risk assessments and evacuation zone maps; households should review their zone assignment and sign up for zone-specific alerts.

Regional Context

Compared to the Florida county average, Baker County's composite score runs 62.5 points lower — a gap that reflects the county's relatively modest hazard profile within its state context.

Is your household prepared for Baker County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Baker County, FL?
Baker County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 13th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Baker County?
Baker County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (76th percentile), hurricane (74th percentile), earthquake (36th percentile), tornado (31th percentile), flooding (23th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 76th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Baker County risk compare to the Florida average?
Baker County's composite risk percentile is 13th, compared to the Florida state average of 76th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Baker County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Florida.
Is Baker County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Baker County's wildfire risk is at the 76th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Baker County is at the 23th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Baker County a safe place to live?
Baker County's composite risk score of 13th percentile is below the Florida state average of 76th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 76th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Liberty County

Florida

-0.6

Very Low

13th percentile

Union County

Florida

-2.4

Very Low

11th percentile

Lafayette County

Florida

+2.6

Very Low

16th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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