riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

DeSoto County Disaster Risk

DeSoto County, Florida

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

82th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#38

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

51th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 51% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 85% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 59% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 16% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively High

Higher than 96% of US counties

Risk Advisory: DeSoto County

Risk Verdict

DeSoto County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 82th percentile nationally. While not in the highest tier, this county faces meaningful hazard exposure. Residents are encouraged to understand their specific risks and maintain emergency supplies.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for DeSoto County, scoring in the 96th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 85th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (59th), flood (51th), earthquake (16th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, DeSoto County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as wildfire also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

DeSoto County is significantly riskier than the average county in Florida. Its composite risk score is 5.9 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in DeSoto County, FL?
DeSoto County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 82th 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 DeSoto County?
DeSoto County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (96th percentile), wildfire (85th percentile), tornado (59th percentile), flooding (51th percentile), earthquake (16th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 96th 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 DeSoto County risk compare to the Florida average?
DeSoto County's composite risk percentile is 82th, compared to the Florida state average of 76th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means DeSoto County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Florida.
Is DeSoto County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, DeSoto County's hurricane risk is at the 96th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, DeSoto County is at the 51th 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.
Why is DeSoto County higher risk than average?
DeSoto County's composite risk score of 82th percentile is above the Florida state average of 76th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by hurricane exposure (96th percentile), along with wildfire and tornado and flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Clay County

Florida

-0.6

Relatively Moderate

81th percentile

Flagler County

Florida

+1.1

Relatively Moderate

83th percentile

Okeechobee County

Florida

-1.4

Relatively Low

80th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & 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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