Natural Disaster Risk in Arecibo

Natural Hazard Profile: Arecibo, PR

Arecibo is a city of 62,908 residents in Arecibo County, near the Atlantic Coast of the southeastern United States. The area experiences a temperate continental climate with four seasons, with seasonal severe weather shaping the pattern of natural hazards that residents encounter. Understanding the local risk profile is essential for anyone living in, moving to, or owning property in Arecibo.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Arecibo carries an overall risk score of 2.2/10, placing it in the low category. Coastal tsunami exposure is the dominant hazard concern, with the regional tectonic environment capable of generating both local and distant-source tsunami waves. The area also faces notable exposure to volcano and coastal flood.

Arecibo's risk score and well below the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Arecibo County, the highest-scoring are tsunami, volcano, and coastal flood. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Arecibo carries a below-average natural disaster risk, reflecting fewer and less severe hazard exposures than typical U.S. communities. Even so, the area's primary risk — tsunami — warrants awareness and appropriate insurance coverage, as lower risk does not mean zero risk.