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

Levy County Disaster Risk

Levy County, Florida

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

66th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#48

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

73th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 73% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 87% 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 34% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Levy County, Florida

Levy County's risk moderately exceeds national average

Levy County's composite risk score of 66.09 with a 'Relatively Low' rating sits below many counties nationwide. However, the score reflects elevated coastal and climate hazards, particularly hurricane and wildfire risks that require active preparation.

Middle-tier risk among Florida counties

Levy County's score of 66.09 falls below Florida's state average of 75.74, placing it among the safer Florida counties. This positioning reflects somewhat lower exposure compared to southwestern and central Florida peers, though hazard risks remain significant.

Safer than surrounding coastal counties

Levy County's 66.09 score trails Lake County (91.92) and substantially trails coastal high-risk counties like Lee (99.05). However, it exceeds inland counties like Madison (47.42), reflecting its greater coastal vulnerability.

Hurricanes and wildfires shape annual risk

Levy County's hurricane risk of 91.61 and wildfire risk of 87.28 represent the county's two dominant hazard exposures. These overlapping seasonal threats mean residents should prepare for storm surge and wildfire impacts, particularly during late summer and fall months.

Hurricane and fire preparedness go hand-in-hand

Levy County homeowners should prioritize wind/hurricane insurance and evaluate wildfire-risk properties for defensible space—clearing brush and dead trees within 30 feet of structures. Understanding local flood zones and maintaining comprehensive homeowners coverage protects against the full spectrum of likely threats.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Levy County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    92th percentile
  2. #2
    WildfirePrepare
    87th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    73th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Levy County

Risk Verdict

Levy County has a below-average natural disaster risk profile, scoring at the 66th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Households in Levy County benefit from knowing which individual hazard types — flood, wildfire, tornado, or hurricane — are the primary contributors.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is Levy County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 92th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Wildfire ranks second at the 87th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (73th percentile), tornado (59th percentile), earthquake (34th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Hurricane risk is Levy County's top-ranked natural hazard at the 92th percentile nationally. The most time-sensitive preparedness step is knowing the county's evacuation zone for your address — zone maps are published by the county emergency management office. Wildfire, the county's second-ranked hazard at the 87th percentile nationally, represents an additional preparedness consideration for Levy County independent of hurricane season. Levy County's county emergency management office publishes official evacuation zone maps with zone-specific shelter locations; downloading this map and identifying your zone assignment is the single highest-value pre-season step.

Regional Context

The Florida county average exceeds Levy County's score by 9.7 composite points — placing this county in the lower-risk tier relative to its in-state peers.

Is your household prepared for Levy 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 Levy County, FL?
Levy County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 66th 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 Levy County?
Levy County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (92th percentile), wildfire (87th percentile), flooding (73th percentile), tornado (59th percentile), earthquake (34th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 92th 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 Levy County risk compare to the Florida average?
Levy County's composite risk percentile is 66th, compared to the Florida state average of 76th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Levy County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Florida.
Is Levy County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Levy County's hurricane risk is at the 92th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Levy County is at the 73th 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 Levy County a safe place to live?
Levy County's composite risk score of 66th 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 92th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Taylor County

Florida

-0.7

Relatively Low

65th percentile

Hardee County

Florida

+3.1

Relatively Low

69th percentile

Columbia County

Florida

+3.6

Relatively Low

70th 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.

Explore more data for Levy County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score