Lake City, FL
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Lake City is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Columbia County, FL. The county's highest-rated hazards are lightning, hurricane, and wildfire.
Storm events near Lake City
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Lake City's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Lake City itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Columbia County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Lake City along with the rest of the county, not a Lake City-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 88.1 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 68.2 | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flooding | 0 | No Rating |
| Earthquake | 58.3 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 76.2 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 66.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 45.5 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 27.8 | Very Low |
| Hail | 5.4 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | 90.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | — | Not Applicable |
| Landslide | 27.4 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 94.2 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 49.7 | Relatively Low |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 13.4 | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Columbia County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Columbia County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Lake City, FL at risk of?
Lake City is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — lower risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Columbia County, where Lake City is located, are lightning, hurricane, and wildfire.
What is Lake City's biggest natural hazard risk?
Lightning is the highest-rated hazard for Columbia County, where Lake City is located, scoring 94.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Lake City a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Lake City carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Columbia County.
Has Lake City had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 10 tornado, 7 hail, 16 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Lake City since 2016.