Allen County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Allen County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Allen County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, inland flooding, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 21 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Allen County has been designated in 10 declarations since 1965, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (5), biological (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1965 | Tornado | Tornadoes & Severe Storms |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 9.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 83 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 83.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 51.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 74.3 | 4 | 0 | $30K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 46.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 79.2 | 15 | 0 | $2K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 81.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 78.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 78.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 39 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 56.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 29.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Allen County ranks in the 57th percentile (Moderate) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 57th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 42nd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 67th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 53rd | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 67th | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 1st | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 1st | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 25.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 21 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 11 in 2016–20 vs 10 in 2021–25 (-9% — relatively stable).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Allen County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Allen County, Ohio are earthquake, inland flooding, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Allen County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Allen County has received 10 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Allen County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Allen County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Allen County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Shelby County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Van Wert County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Allen County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Allen County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Allen County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Allen County's composite score of 73 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 73% of US counties.