riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Hardee County Disaster Risk

Hardee County, Florida

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

69th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#47

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

26th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 26% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 42% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 11% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 91% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Hardee County

Risk Verdict

Hardee County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 69th 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 Hardee County, scoring in the 91th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 83th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (42th), flood (26th), earthquake (11th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Hardee 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

Hardee County is notably safer than the average county in Florida. Its composite risk score is 6.6 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 Hardee County, FL?
Hardee County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 69th 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 Hardee County?
Hardee County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (91th percentile), wildfire (83th percentile), tornado (42th percentile), flooding (26th percentile), earthquake (11th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 91th 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 Hardee County risk compare to the Florida average?
Hardee County's composite risk percentile is 69th, compared to the Florida state average of 76th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Hardee County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Florida.
Is Hardee County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Hardee County's hurricane risk is at the 91th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Hardee County is at the 26th 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 Hardee County a safe place to live?
Hardee County's composite risk score of 69th 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 91th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Columbia County

Florida

+0.5

Relatively Low

70th percentile

Suwannee County

Florida

+2.2

Relatively Low

71th percentile

Levy County

Florida

-3.1

Relatively Low

66th 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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