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

Glades County Disaster Risk

Glades County, Florida

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

48th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#54

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

45th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 45% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 88% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 21% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 7% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 88% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Glades County, Florida

Glades carries below-average U.S. risk

Glades County's composite risk score of 48.03 falls comfortably below the national average, earning a relatively low risk rating. The county's inland position in South Florida insulates it from extreme coastal hazards.

Well below Florida's state average

Glades's score of 48.03 sits significantly below Florida's 75.74 state average, ranking it among the safer counties in the state. This advantage reflects minimal flood and tornado exposure in the agricultural heartland.

Safer than surrounding South Florida

Glades's 48.03 score beats nearby Hardee County (69.18) and ranks among the safest in the region despite hurricane exposure. The county's inland elevation and distance from major coasts provide natural protection.

Wildfire and hurricane dominate hazards

Wildfire risk of 87.66 is Glades's chief concern, driven by the county's agricultural and forested landscape, while hurricane risk of 87.61 remains significant. Flood and tornado risks of 44.56 and 20.90 are substantially lower than state peers.

Prioritize wildfire and wind insurance

Glades residents should secure homeowners insurance with strong wind coverage for hurricane protection, given the 87.61 risk score. Wildfire insurance is equally important—seek policies covering structure loss from wildfire or negotiate riders with standard insurers.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Glades County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    88th percentile
  2. #2
    HurricanePrepare
    88th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    45th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Glades County

Risk Verdict

Natural hazard pressure in Glades County is below the national midpoint, with a composite score at the 48th percentile. Residents of Glades County can use the 48th 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 Glades County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 88th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Hurricane ranks second at the 88th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (45th percentile), tornado (21th percentile), earthquake (7th percentile).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire ranked at the 88th percentile nationally, Glades County is in a zone where air quality can deteriorate rapidly before structures are threatened. An N95 respirator and a HEPA air purifier are practical items for Glades County households to have on hand before fire season. The county's hurricane exposure at the 88th percentile nationally complements the wildfire risk — saturating rain after burn scarring often triggers secondary flood and debris flow events. Defensible space, insurance review, and an evacuation plan are the three preparedness pillars for Glades County households — and the insurance review is the one most often deferred by Glades County residents and most costly to skip when a fire event actually occurs.

Regional Context

Glades County's composite risk score sits 27.7 points below the Florida county average, reflecting a more favorable hazard environment than the state typical.

Is your household prepared for Glades 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 Glades County, FL?
Glades County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 48th 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 Glades County?
Glades County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (88th percentile), hurricane (88th percentile), flooding (45th percentile), tornado (21th percentile), earthquake (7th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 88th 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 Glades County risk compare to the Florida average?
Glades County's composite risk percentile is 48th, compared to the Florida state average of 76th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Glades County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Florida.
Is Glades County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Glades County's wildfire risk is at the 88th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Glades County is at the 45th 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 Glades County a safe place to live?
Glades County's composite risk score of 48th 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 88th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Madison County

Florida

-0.6

Relatively Low

47th percentile

Wakulla County

Florida

-1.3

Relatively Low

47th percentile

Holmes County

Florida

+1.4

Relatively Low

49th 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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