Clarion County, PA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Clarion County has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Clarion County's highest-rated hazards are lightning, landslide, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 25% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Clarion County has been designated in 14 declarations since 1972, covering 5 disaster types including flood (5), hurricane (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004 | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 1996 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 1996 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1993 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 total declarations since 1972.
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 | 16.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 52.2 | 33 | 0 | $289K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 32 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 12.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 28.8 | 8 | 0 | $113K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 63.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 12.1 | 25 | 0 | $10K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 44.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 31.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 20.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 35.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 80.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 70.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 40.8 | — | — | — |
| 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
Clarion County ranks in the 32nd percentile (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 | 32nd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 43rd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 10th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 6th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 65th | 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 | 27th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 26th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 78.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 63 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 36 in 2016–20 vs 27 in 2021–25 (-25% — 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 Clarion County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Clarion County, Pennsylvania are lightning, landslide, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Clarion County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Clarion County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (5 declarations).
Has Clarion County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Clarion County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Clarion County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Butler County, PA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Forest County, PA has the lowest (Very Low). Clarion County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Clarion County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Clarion 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. Clarion County's composite score of 30 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 30% of US counties.