Holmes County Disaster Risk

Holmes County, Florida

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

49th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#53

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

Very Low

Higher than 32% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 53% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 32% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 91% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Holmes County

Risk Verdict

Holmes County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 49th 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 Holmes County, scoring in the 91th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 53th percentile. Additional hazards include wildfire (32th), earthquake (32th), flood (26th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Holmes 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 tornado 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

Holmes County is notably safer than the average county in Florida. Its composite risk score is 26.3 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 Holmes County, FL?
Holmes County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 49th 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 Holmes County?
Holmes County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (91th percentile), tornado (53th percentile), wildfire (32th percentile), earthquake (32th percentile), flooding (26th 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 Holmes County risk compare to the Florida average?
Holmes County's composite risk percentile is 49th, compared to the Florida state average of 76th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Holmes County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Florida.
Is Holmes County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Holmes County's hurricane risk is at the 91th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Holmes 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 Holmes County a safe place to live?
Holmes County's composite risk score of 49th 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.
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.