What is a FEMA disaster declaration?

When a disaster overwhelms state and local resources, the governor requests federal assistance. The President can declare a Major Disaster, Emergency, or Fire Management Assistance Grant, each unlocking different federal aid.

Why 20 years of data?

Major disasters are relatively rare events. 20 years provides a statistically meaningful sample while remaining relevant. Some counties have had dozens of declarations, while others have had none.

Does a high score mean a disaster is imminent?

No. A high score means the county has historically experienced many federally-declared disasters. It indicates ongoing vulnerability but does not predict specific future events.

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Disaster Risk by ZIP Code

Disaster risk scores are based on FEMA disaster declarations - official presidential declarations that trigger federal disaster assistance. We count declarations by county over the last 20 years (major disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance) and calculate a percentile rank.

Data: FEMA

Check Disaster Risk for Your ZIP

Top 20 Highest Disaster Risk ZIP Codes

Based on FEMA data, nationally ranked

#	ZIP	Location	Score	Level
1	32211	Jacksonville, FL	84	EXTREME
2	33615	Tampa, FL	84	EXTREME
3	33142	Miami, FL	84	EXTREME
4	33157	Miami, FL	84	EXTREME
5	33127	Miami, FL	84	EXTREME
6	32256	Jacksonville, FL	83	EXTREME
7	32226	Jacksonville, FL	83	EXTREME
8	33187	Miami, FL	83	EXTREME
9	33172	Miami, FL	83	EXTREME
10	33125	Miami, FL	82	EXTREME
11	32224	Jacksonville, FL	81	EXTREME
12	32209	Jacksonville, FL	81	EXTREME
13	33140	Miami Beach, FL	81	EXTREME
14	33613	Tampa, FL	81	EXTREME
15	33170	Miami, FL	81	EXTREME
16	33155	Miami, FL	81	EXTREME
17	32254	Jacksonville, FL	80	SEVERE
18	33185	Miami, FL	80	SEVERE
19	70130	New Orleans, LA	79	SEVERE
20	70115	New Orleans, LA	79	SEVERE

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a FEMA disaster declaration?
When a disaster overwhelms state and local resources, the governor requests federal assistance. The President can declare a Major Disaster, Emergency, or Fire Management Assistance Grant, each unlocking different federal aid.
Why 20 years of data?
Major disasters are relatively rare events. 20 years provides a statistically meaningful sample while remaining relevant. Some counties have had dozens of declarations, while others have had none.
Does a high score mean a disaster is imminent?
No. A high score means the county has historically experienced many federally-declared disasters. It indicates ongoing vulnerability but does not predict specific future events.

National Disaster Alerts

Get notified about disaster risk changes across the US.