FEMA rates relative lightning risk for Polk County as very high and reports FEMA annualized frequency of 174.985 per year for the area.
FEMA summary
FEMA's profile for Polk County reports FEMA annualized frequency of 174.985 per year for lightning. FEMA's relative risk rating for the area is very high; the annualized frequency is a separate measure.
Hazard metrics cover FEMA county-equivalent geographies rather than individual addresses or parcels. Use local or state hazard maps before making a property, insurance, retrofit, or evacuation decision.
Select a hazard to inspect FEMA's figures for Polk County.
Lightning
FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.
Relative FEMA score
99.8/100
Occurrence thresholds vary by hazard. The FEMA methodology defines the value for each hazard.
The area loss estimate combines FEMA's modeled losses to buildings, population, and agriculture across Polk County. It is not an estimate for a home or address.
City risk summary
For Lakeland, FEMA rates lightning risk for Polk County as very high, with a relative score of 99.8/100. The next highest relative scores are strong wind at 99.3/100 and wildfire at 99.0/100.
Using FEMA data for Polk County, Lakeland is tied #23 among 43 covered Florida entries for lightning risk; 2 entries share that score. Winter Haven is about 16 straight-line miles from the Lakeland map point and uses the same FEMA geography.
For homeowners and movers
Preparedness actions
Living in Lakeland? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.
The map shows Lakeland. All FEMA figures on this page cover Polk County.
The FEMA figures cover Polk County. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.
FEMA rates relative lightning risk for Polk County as very high. Its FEMA annualized frequency is 174.985 per year. Damage at a specific address also depends on the building, soil, elevation, and exact hazard zone.
Among 43 Florida cities covered by this directory, Lakeland is Tied #23 for relative lightning risk based on FEMA's score for Polk County. 2 covered cities share this rank because they use the same FEMA geography. Homes within Lakeland can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.
In FEMA's data for Polk County, the highest relative ratings are Lightning (Very High), Strong Wind (Very High), and Wildfire (Relatively High). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.
The hazard numbers cover Polk County. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.
FEMA gives Polk County an overall relative risk rating of relatively high. Conditions at a specific home depend on its hazard zones, building type, maintenance, insurance, and access to evacuation routes and emergency services.
Start with this step: Confirm the exact hazard using official local maps before making property or insurance decisions. Know how local officials issue warnings and evacuation instructions. Use Ready.gov Be Informed and local emergency guidance for a complete plan.
Distances are measured between city coordinates.
| City | Distance | Lightning rating | Relative score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Haven, FL | 16 mi | Very High | 99.8 |
| Brandon, FL | 23 mi | Very High | 99.9 |
| Riverview, FL | 27 mi | Very High | 99.9 |
| Tampa, FL | 30 mi | Very High | 99.9 |
| Kissimmee, FL | 37 mi | Relatively Moderate | 83.3 |
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View productHazard metrics come from FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 (March 2023). City population and coordinates come from SimpleMaps US Cities Database. For current conditions, use official local maps, warnings, inspections, and professional advice.