FEMA Records
40
Very high volume
Florida · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Hernando County, FL
40 FEMA disaster declarations (1969-2025), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate. Most common hazard: Hurricane.
- 40
- FEMA declarations
- 23
- Major disasters
- 88
- NRI risk · Relatively Moderate
- Hurricane
- Top hazard
The verdict
Hernando County has a nationally busy FEMA history: 40 declarations, more than 97% of counties in this registry. But the state comparison tempers that reading: the total is 1% below the Florida county mean. FEMA's separate National Risk Index places the county in the riskiest 12%; that score models loss and vulnerability rather than counting declarations.
- Riskiest 12%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Moderate
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 40
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 3,244
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed
FEMA's National Risk Index and its declaration registry are separate measures. This county's registry includes Fire Management Assistance (FM) records, which are not presidential disaster declarations, alongside Major Disaster (DR) and Emergency (EM) records.
FEMA OpenFEMA declaration desk
County FIPS 12053 · Hernando County 40 declarations · rank 103/3,266
DECL-HEAVY · MAJOR-MID · RANK-UPPER · PHOTO-FINISH · NRI-MID · ACT-HIGH · TYPE-LEAD · VS-ST-BELOW
- DECL-HEAVY 40
- MAJOR-MID 57%
- RANK-UPPER #103
- PHOTO-FINISH Essex
- NRI-MID 88
- ACT-HIGH High
- TYPE-LEAD Hurricane
- VS-ST-BELOW -1%
Nearest declaration peer: Essex, MA (0 declaration gap)
FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 filing stamps for this county register. Read with this county → · Florida state profile
Hernando County among high-volume declaration counties
FEMA declaration records among Hernando County and nearest peers by total count
- Los Angeles · largest
Los Angeles · largest
88 declarations
- Essex · near
Essex · near
40 declarations
- Hernando · this county
Hernando · this county
40 declarations
- Okfuskee · near
Okfuskee · near
40 declarations
- Tulsa · near
Tulsa · near
40 declarations
- Ujelang · smallest 1
Ujelang · smallest
1 declarations
What this shows Hernando County carries 40 FEMA declaration records, ranked 103 of 3,266 counties in this registry.
Where Hernando County ranks in the national declaration registry
Hernando County vs. high-volume counties in this registry
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time · Hernando County
40 Top 3% higher than 97% of 3,266 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-25
Hernando County's FEMA Risk Index score
What does Hernando County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
FEMA's NFIP table contains a substantial paid-claim history for this county: 3,244 claims and $138.2M in payments. PlainHazard labels 500 or more claims a heavy registry record; that is a reporting bucket, not an official FEMA risk grade. The average paid claim was $42.6K. NFIP totals exclude uninsured flood losses and do not measure how many properties currently carry a policy.
Start with the state benchmark: a Florida county averages 40.4 federal declaration records, while Hernando County has 40. The gap is 1% below that mean. Fewer entries indicate a quieter history of recorded federal actions, not immunity from a hazard and not a prediction about what happens next.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 88.0/100 (Relatively Moderate). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively Moderate (roughly $60.1M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Relatively Moderate and community resilience Very Low, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Hurricane stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Relatively High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at roughly once every 4 years here, based on 105 historical events on record.
75 /100
Historical Activity Index
Very High historical activity
Hernando County, FL · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite from FEMA declaration history only on the county surface (this DB has no county-level NOAA damage row) . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) Very High
29/30
40 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.9x national county average)
County Disaster Density Moderate
12/25
40 declarations (1.0x state county average of 40)
Major Disaster Share High
14/25
23 of 40 declarations are major disasters (57%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
20/20
8 different disaster types declared in Hernando County
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Hernando County
How to read this radar
Each axis: NRI risk rating (Very Low-Very High) on a 0-100 scale. Rounder = broad exposure; spiky = one or two hazards dominate.
Major Disaster share
57%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
88
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Hernando County?
FEMA's National Risk Index models a historical event count and an annualized frequency for each hazard type. Most hazards are expressed as modeled occurrences per year; FEMA expresses drought and heat-wave frequency as event-days per year. These modeled frequencies are not forecasts.
| Hazard | NRI Risk Rating | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively High | roughly once every 4 years |
| Lightning | Relatively High | an average of 93 times per year |
| Tornado | Relatively High | roughly once every 2 years |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | roughly once every 287 years |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 1 years |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 2.8 modeled event-days per year |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | an average of 3.7 times per year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 1 years |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | an average of 3.4 times per year |
| Landslide | Very Low | roughly once every 16 years |
| Earthquake | Very Low | roughly once every 2,632 years |
| Drought | Very Low | 17 modeled event-days per year |
| Hail | Very Low | an average of 2 times per year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Hurricane 20
Severe Storm 6
Tropical Storm 5
Freezing 3
Biological 2
Fire 2
Tornado 1
Flood 1
What Hurricane declarations mean here
Hurricane is the most frequent declaration type on Hernando County's federal record, 50% of its declarations. Atlantic tropical systems run on a defined season, 1 June to 30 November, with most activity concentrated between August and October; Pacific and territorial basins run on their own calendars. A single named storm routinely produces one declaration number covering a long corridor of counties at once, well inland as well as on the coast, which is why an affected county's count can jump by several in one year without several separate events having occurred.
One practical distinction matters when reading these records: a tropical declaration usually bundles wind, storm surge and inland rainfall flooding under a single incident, but the insurance behind them is split. Wind damage falls to property insurers, while flood and surge damage is covered only under a separate National Flood Insurance Program policy. That is why a county can show heavy declaration activity and a comparatively small NFIP claims record, or the reverse.
Declaration counts describe past federal action. They are a record of what was declared, not a forecast of future hazard probability.
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Major Disaster - 23 57.5%
of all 40 declarations
Emergency - 16 40.0%
of all 40 declarations
Fire Management - 1 2.5%
of all 40 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 4 | |
| 2023 | 4 | |
| 2022 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 3 | |
| 2016 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 3 | |
| 2003 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 1 | |
Show 8 earlier declaration years
| 2000 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 3 | |
| 1997 | 1 | |
| 1993 | 1 | |
| 1990 | 1 | |
| 1979 | 1 | |
| 1977 | 1 | |
| 1969 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 40 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 40 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4834 | HURRICANE MILTON | DR | Hurricane | 2024-10-11 |
| 3622 | HURRICANE MILTON | EM | Hurricane | 2024-10-07 |
| 4828 | HURRICANE HELENE | DR | Hurricane | 2024-09-28 |
| 3615 | TROPICAL STORM HELENE | EM | Tropical Storm | 2024-09-24 |
| 4806 | HURRICANE DEBBY | DR | Tropical Storm | 2024-08-10 |
| 3605 | TROPICAL STORM DEBBY | EM | Tropical Storm | 2024-08-03 |
| 4734 | HURRICANE IDALIA | DR | Hurricane | 2023-08-31 |
| 3596 | TROPICAL STORM IDALIA | EM | Tropical Storm | 2023-08-28 |
| 4680 | HURRICANE NICOLE | DR | Hurricane | 2022-12-13 |
| 3587 | TROPICAL STORM NICOLE | EM | Tropical Storm | 2022-11-08 |
| 4673 | HURRICANE IAN | DR | Hurricane | 2022-09-29 |
| 3584 | TROPICAL STORM IAN | EM | Hurricane | 2022-09-24 |
| 3561 | TROPICAL STORM ELSA | EM | Severe Storm | 2021-07-04 |
| 3551 | HURRICANE ETA | EM | Hurricane | 2020-11-11 |
| 4486 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-03-25 |
| 3432 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 3419 | HURRICANE DORIAN | EM | Hurricane | 2019-08-30 |
| 3405 | HURRICANE MICHAEL | EM | Hurricane | 2018-10-09 |
| 4337 | HURRICANE IRMA | DR | Hurricane | 2017-09-10 |
| 3385 | HURRICANE IRMA | EM | Hurricane | 2017-09-05 |
Show 20 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3377 | HURRICANE MATTHEW | EM | Hurricane | 2016-10-06 |
| 4280 | HURRICANE HERMINE | DR | Hurricane | 2016-09-28 |
| 4068 | TROPICAL STORM DEBBY | DR | Severe Storm | 2012-07-03 |
| 3288 | TROPICAL STORM FAY | EM | Severe Storm | 2008-08-21 |
| 3220 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-05 |
| 1561 | HURRICANE JEANNE | DR | Hurricane | 2004-09-26 |
| 1545 | HURRICANE FRANCES | DR | Hurricane | 2004-09-04 |
| 1539 | TROPICAL STORM BONNIE AND HURRICANE CHARLEY | DR | Hurricane | 2004-08-13 |
| 1481 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2003-07-29 |
| 1359 | SEVERE FREEZE | DR | Freezing | 2001-02-05 |
| 2299 | WITHLACOOCHEE FIRE COMPLEX | FM | Fire | 2000-05-19 |
| 3131 | HURRICANE GRORGES | EM | Hurricane | 1998-09-25 |
| 1223 | EXTREME FIRE HAZARD | DR | Fire | 1998-06-18 |
| 1195 | SEVERE STORMS, HIGH WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 1998-01-06 |
| 1141 | TROPICAL STORM JOSEPHINE | DR | Severe Storm | 1996-10-15 |
| 982 | TORNADOES, FLOODING, HIGH WINDS & TIDES, FREEZING | DR | Tornado | 1993-03-13 |
| 851 | SEVERE FREEZE | DR | Freezing | 1990-01-15 |
| 607 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1979-09-29 |
| 526 | SEVERE WINTER WEATHER | DR | Freezing | 1977-01-31 |
| 252 | HURRICANE GLADYS | DR | Hurricane | 1968-11-07 |
Storm Events in Florida
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Hernando County.
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 5,243 | 17 | 45 | $24.8M |
| Hail | 1,012 | 0 | 0 | $564.6K |
| Heavy Rain | 865 | 2 | 3 | $200.0K |
| Flood | 826 | 9 | 0 | $2.0B |
| Tropical Storm | 767 | 92 | 6 | $4.9B |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
3,244
Total Paid
$138.2M
Avg Per Claim
$42.6K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Score: 88.0/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Moderate
$60.1M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively Moderate
Community Resilience
Very Low
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Hurricane Relatively High
Lightning Relatively High
Tornado Relatively High
Wildfire Relatively Low
Riverine Flooding Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Coastal Flooding Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Earthquake Very Low
Drought Very Low
Hail Very Low
Winter Weather No Rating
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Hurricane
Hurricane exposure in the model bundles the three ways a tropical system does harm, which arrive on different timescales and are insured differently: wind, storm surge on the coast, and rainfall flooding that can reach far inland well after landfall.
For Hernando County the two measures on this page point the same way: Hurricane is the county's highest-rated modeled hazard (Relatively High), and Hurricane declarations also lead its federal record. Where the model and the declaration history agree, the reading is comparatively straightforward, the hazard is both expected and repeatedly realised.
National Risk Index ratings are modeled estimates of expected annual loss, not predictions of what will happen in any given year.
Data-matched county comparisons
Hernando County's closest FEMA peer: Essex County, MA
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Hernando County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Hernando County shows 40 FEMA declarations, led by Hurricane.
Similar Major-disaster share
Hernando County: 23 of 40 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Hernando County: NRI composite 88.0 (Relatively Moderate).
How these peers are chosen
Cohort: Published U.S. county equivalents outside the source state or territory. Each metric keeps six ETL candidates; three unique destinations are shown after de-duplicating across axes. Declaration-volume ranking combines count and Major-disaster share and prefers a different leading incident type; Major-share ranks the Major fraction adjusted for volume; NRI ranks the modeled composite score only.
Retained FEMA snapshot feed for Hernando County - capture-dated entries only.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by NRI score & FEMA declaration volume
Two PlainHazard-derived comparison paths for Hernando County: nearest out-of-state National Risk Index composite and nearest FEMA declaration count (floor ≥5 records). Record similarity only, not a forecast of the next hazard.
Similar NRI composite
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA NRI score. This county: 88.0 (Relatively Moderate).
Similar declaration volume
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA declaration count. This county: 40. NRI peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Hernando County's NFIP claims file (3,244 claims) and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records - this guide separates them from modeled NRI risk.
More PlainHazard guides
- Most disaster-prone counties - U.S. counties ranked by FEMA declaration totals.
- Understanding disaster data - declarations vs storm events vs NRI scores.
- Preparing for natural disasters - household checklist (not county-specific advice).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Hernando County?
The most common disaster type in Hernando County is Hurricane, with 20 declarations. Other disaster types include Severe Storm (6), Tropical Storm (5), Freezing (3).
How does Hernando County's FEMA declaration record compare with the Florida average?
The typical Florida county has 40.4 FEMA declaration records; Hernando County has 40, or 1% fewer. Against the national county mean of 20.7, this county's total is 93% higher. The comparison is historical and says nothing about the probability of a future event.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Hernando County received?
Hernando County has received 23 major disaster declarations, representing 57% of all 40 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Hernando County filed?
Hernando County has 3,244 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $138.2M in payments, with an average of $42.6K per claim.
What was the worst year for disasters in Hernando County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Hernando County was 2023, with 4 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1969 to 2025.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Hernando County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Hernando County, Florida has an overall risk score of 88.0 out of 100 (Relatively Moderate). The county's social vulnerability rating is Relatively Moderate and community resilience is Very Low. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Moderate, representing $60.1M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Hernando County?
Based on FEMA NRI data, the highest-risk natural hazard in Hernando County is Hurricane (risk rating: Relatively High). Other significant hazards include Lightning (Relatively High) and Tornado (Relatively High). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts hurricane here at roughly once every 4 years, drawn from 105 historical events on record. FEMA derives these ratings from historical event frequency, the assets exposed, and the community's vulnerability profile.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Flood insurance data comes from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA claims dataset.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
FEMA OpenFEMA declarations + NRI for Hernando County · vintage 2026-08-25 · Methodology · Florida profile · Verify with FEMA OpenFEMA · Verify with NOAA Storm Events