riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Gulf County Disaster Risk

Gulf County, Florida

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

60th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#50

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

62th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 62% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 38% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 19% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 93% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Gulf County

Risk Verdict

Gulf County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 60th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Gulf County, scoring in the 93th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 74th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (62th), tornado (38th), earthquake (19th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Gulf 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

Gulf County is notably safer than the average county in Florida. Its composite risk score is 16.2 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Gulf County, FL?
Gulf County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 60th 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 Gulf County?
Gulf County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (93th percentile), wildfire (74th percentile), flooding (62th percentile), tornado (38th percentile), earthquake (19th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 93th 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 Gulf County risk compare to the Florida average?
Gulf County's composite risk percentile is 60th, compared to the Florida state average of 76th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Gulf County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Florida.
Is Gulf County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Gulf County's hurricane risk is at the 93th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Gulf County is at the 62th 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 Gulf County a safe place to live?
Gulf County's composite risk score of 60th 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 hurricane at the 93th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Washington County

Florida

-0.1

Relatively Low

59th percentile

Nassau County

Florida

-0.2

Relatively Low

59th percentile

Taylor County

Florida

+5.9

Relatively Low

65th 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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