Columbia County, NY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Columbia County has experienced 27 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Hurricane Henri in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Columbia County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, hurricane, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 32% 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. Columbia County has been designated in 27 declarations since 1973, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (9), snowstorm (6), hurricane (5).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 total declarations since 1973.
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 | 38.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 79.9 | 29 | 0 | $28K |
| Coastal Flooding | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 66.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 44.2 | 26 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 68.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 81.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 67.2 | 15 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 42.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 41.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 69.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 45 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 76.6 | 2 | 0 | $7K |
| Drought | Very Low | 16.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 83.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 38.2 | — | — | — |
| 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
Columbia County ranks in the 43rd 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 | 43rd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 35th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 46th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 45th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 52nd | 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 | 15th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 16th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 77.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 72 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 31 in 2016–20 vs 41 in 2021–25 (+32% — frequency increasing).
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 Columbia County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Columbia County, New York are landslide, hurricane, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Columbia County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Columbia County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (9 declarations).
Has Columbia County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Columbia County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Hurricane Henri in 2021.
How does Columbia County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Dutchess County, NY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Greene County, NY has the lowest (Relatively Low). Columbia County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Columbia County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Columbia 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. Columbia County's composite score of 69 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 69% of US counties.