Sanford, FL
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Sanford is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk — near the middle compared to other US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Seminole County, FL. The county's highest-rated hazards are tornado, strong wind, and lightning.
Storm events near Sanford
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Sanford's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Sanford 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 Seminole County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Sanford along with the rest of the county, not a Sanford-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 92.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Inland Flooding | 92.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | 0 | No Rating |
| Earthquake | 65.9 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 77.8 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 97.6 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 28.8 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 18.1 | Very Low |
| Hail | 21.3 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | 94.7 | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | — | Not Applicable |
| Landslide | 19.8 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 95.8 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 96.5 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 0 | No Rating |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Seminole County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Seminole County:
More on Seminole County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Sanford, FL at risk of?
Sanford is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — near the middle compared to other US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Seminole County, where Sanford is located, are tornado, strong wind, and lightning.
What is Sanford's biggest natural hazard risk?
Tornado is the highest-rated hazard for Seminole County, where Sanford is located, scoring 97.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Sanford a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Sanford carries near the middle compared to other US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Moderate" for Seminole County.
Has Sanford had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 15 tornado, 104 hail, 22 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Sanford since 2016.