Columbia County, PA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Columbia County has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Columbia County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, landslide, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (28th 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. Columbia County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1972, covering 5 disaster types including flood (7), severe storm (6), hurricane (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Flood | Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011 | Flood | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004 | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 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 | 27.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 78.6 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 51.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 52.5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 36.1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 70.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 13 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 61.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 83.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 49.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 38.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 62 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 80.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 46.6 | — | — | — |
| 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 28th 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 | 28th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 38th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 3rd | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 23rd | Very low |
| 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 | 38th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 38th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 60.1% | — |
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, Pennsylvania are winter weather, landslide, 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 20 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (7 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 Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Columbia County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Luzerne County, PA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Sullivan County, PA has the lowest (Very 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 62 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 62% of US counties.