No part of Florida is free of hurricane risk. But FEMA’s National Risk Index shows large differences between counties, and they are not always where people expect.
Of Florida’s 67 counties, 21 are rated Very High for hurricanes. They include Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Lee, Collier, Brevard and Polk.
The best way to compare
Big counties have more buildings, so they naturally have bigger total losses. To compare fairly, we divide each county’s expected yearly hurricane losses by its population.
Lowest hurricane risk per resident (100,000+ people)
| Rank | County | Expected loss per resident a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clay County | $43 |
| 2 | Osceola County | $47 |
| 3 | Seminole County | $52 |
| 4 | Lake County | $54 |
| 5 | Orange County | $56 |
| 6 | Duval County | $65 |
| 7 | St. Johns County | $83 |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025.
Most of these are inland Central Florida counties around Orlando, or Northeast Florida counties around Jacksonville. Hurricanes weaken over land, and these areas are less exposed to storm surge. That does not mean they are safe: Hurricane Ian in 2022 caused major flooding in Orange and Seminole counties as it crossed the state.
Highest hurricane risk per resident (all counties)
- Gulf County: about $866 a year
- Indian River County: about $827
- Monroe County (the Keys): about $790
- Bay County: about $674
- Walton County: about $629
- Martin County: about $580
Bay and Gulf counties took a direct hit from Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm, in 2018. Monroe County sits low in the open water between the Gulf and the Atlantic.
Highest total hurricane losses
In total dollars, Miami-Dade, Lee, Palm Beach and Brevard counties rank among the top five in the whole country, along with Harris County, Texas. See the national hurricane ranking.
Flooding matters as much as wind
In FEMA’s data, inland flooding is the costliest hazard in many Florida counties, including Miami-Dade and Broward, while hurricane is first in Palm Beach, Lee and Collier. Heavy rain and storm surge are flood damage, which needs a separate flood policy.
Florida has the most NFIP flood policies of any state. Even so, most Florida homes do not have one. Check any county’s share on its page.
Questions people ask
Which Florida county is safest from hurricanes? Among counties with at least 100,000 people, Clay County, southwest of Jacksonville, has the lowest expected hurricane losses per resident in FEMA’s data. Very small rural Baker County is lower still.
Is Orlando safe from hurricanes? Orlando’s Orange County has lower hurricane risk per person than most of Florida, but it is still rated Relatively High, and storms like Ian, Irma and Charley caused damage there.
Does living inland lower my insurance? Often, but not always. Insurers look at distance to the coast, building age, roof and construction.
Look up any Florida county in the Florida state page.