Champaign County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Champaign County has experienced 11 federally declared disasters since 1978, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Champaign County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, earthquake, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 58% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (11th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Champaign County has been designated in 11 declarations since 1978, covering 4 disaster types including severe storm (6), biological (2), snowstorm (2).
| 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 |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1995 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 11 total declarations since 1978.
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 | 3.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 43.8 | 18 | 0 | $4K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 56.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 26.4 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 46.4 | 3 | 0 | $195K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 27.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 55.6 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 32.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 51.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 58.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 38.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 41.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 50.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 51 | 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
Champaign County ranks in the 11th percentile (Very low) 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 | 11th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 17th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 16th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 19th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 18th | Very low |
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 | 3rd | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 2nd | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 50.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 27 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 19 in 2016–20 vs 8 in 2021–25 (-58% — frequency decreasing).
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 Champaign County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Champaign County, Ohio are ice storm, earthquake, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Champaign County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Champaign County has received 11 federal disaster declarations since 1978, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (6 declarations).
Has Champaign County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Champaign County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Champaign County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Clark County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Madison County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Champaign County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Champaign County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Champaign 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. Champaign County's composite score of 27 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 27% of US counties.