Athens County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Athens County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1968, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Athens County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, inland flooding, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 101 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. Athens County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1968, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (11), flood (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1968.
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 | 13.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 83.7 | 86 | 0 | $149K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 48.8 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 73.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 37.4 | 2 | 0 | $20K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 53.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 60.4 | 22 | 0 | $56K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 56.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 31.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 77.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 19.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 69.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 44.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 86.2 | 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
Athens County ranks in the 58th 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 | 58th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 72nd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 4th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 31st | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 93rd | High |
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 | 28th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 28th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 71.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 101 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 48 in 2016–20 vs 53 in 2021–25 (+10% — 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 Athens County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Athens County, Ohio are landslide, inland flooding, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Athens County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Athens County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (11 declarations).
Has Athens County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Athens County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Athens County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Wood County, WV has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Vinton County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Athens County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Athens County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Athens 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. Athens County's composite score of 69 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 69% of US counties.