Liberty County, Florida
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Liberty County, Florida has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 87% of US counties. It ranks 66th of 67 counties in Florida. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and lightning. FEMA estimates about $4.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $758 per resident. Since 1985 it has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (25 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). Only 13 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Liberty County
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 82.1 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 8.9 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 73.6 | $493K | ||
| Tornado | 28.3 | $399K | ||
| Cold wave | 28.6 | $337K | ||
| Wildfire | 68.6 | $140K | ||
| Heat wave | 24.1 | $79K | ||
| Strong wind | 6.3 | $37K | ||
| Earthquake | 16.7 | $18K | ||
| Hail | 2.6 | $4K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 28.6 | $3K | ||
| Winter weather | 2.9 | $2K | ||
| Drought | 13.6 | $139 | ||
| Landslide | 15.1 | $55 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Liberty County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 41
Florida also had 39 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1962
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 140 storm reports in Liberty County since 1962, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $1.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on April 27, 2023 near Hosford.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 2023 | EF2 | Hosford | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 15, 2004 | F1 | Wilma | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 25, 1969 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 1972 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 3, 1973 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 2023 | Tornado | Hosford | $500K |
| Sep 15, 2004 | Tornado | Wilma | $100K |
| Aug 1, 2008 | Lightning | Sweetwater | $75K |
| Mar 7, 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sumatra | $50K |
| Sep 26, 2024 | Flash Flood | Sumatra | $50K |
| Dec 25, 1969 | Tornado | – | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 12, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1851, 24 hurricanes and 38 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Liberty County, 23 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 160 mph about 42 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2018 | Michael | Category 5, 160 mph | 42 mi |
| Oct 9, 1894 | Unnamed | Category 3, 120 mph | 56 mi |
| Oct 3, 1877 | Unnamed | Category 3, 115 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 23, 1851 | Unnamed | Category 3, 115 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 31, 1856 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 62 mi |
| Oct 9, 1852 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 58 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 10, 2022 | Nicole | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 53 mi |
| Sep 9, 2021 | Mindy | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 41 mi |
| Aug 16, 2021 | Fred | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 61 mi |
| Oct 10, 2018 | Michael | Category 5, 160 mph | 42 mi |
| Sep 2, 2016 | Hermine | Category 1, 80 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 16, 2009 | Claudette | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 64 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Liberty County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Liberty County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 3,238 housing units.
Compare in Florida
All 67 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County | Inland flooding | |
| Broward County | Inland flooding | |
| Palm Beach County | Hurricane | |
| Hillsborough County | Hurricane | |
| Orange County | Inland flooding | |
| Duval County | Inland flooding | |
| Pinellas County | Hurricane | |
| Lee County | Hurricane |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Leon County | 35 | |
| Jackson County | 34 | |
| Gadsden County | 39 | |
| Wakulla County | 45 | |
| Gulf County | 47 | |
| Calhoun County | 43 | |
| Franklin County | 46 |
Common questions about Liberty County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Liberty County?
Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Liberty County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Liberty County had?
Liberty County has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1985, including 25 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.
Is Liberty County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 66th highest of 67 in Florida. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Liberty County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Liberty County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Liberty County had?
NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Liberty County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on April 27, 2023 near Hosford. The weather service has also logged 22 hail reports and 10 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Liberty County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 24 hurricanes and 38 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Liberty County, including 4 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with winds near 160 mph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.