Defiance County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Defiance County has experienced 8 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Defiance County's highest-rated hazards are hail, tornado, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 78% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (25th 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. Defiance County has been designated in 8 declarations since 1977, covering 5 disaster types including biological (2), severe storm (2), snowstorm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1982 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1977 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
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 | 6.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 59.4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 52.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 27.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 63.7 | 4 | 0 | $55K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 27 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 64.9 | 17 | 0 | $2K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 53.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 31.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 54.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 31.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 31.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 27.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 40.9 | 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
Defiance County ranks in the 25th 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 | 25th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 21st | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 62nd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 42nd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 17th | 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 | 1st | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 1st | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 29.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 22 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 18 in 2016–20 vs 4 in 2021–25 (-78% — 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 Defiance County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Defiance County, Ohio are hail, tornado, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Defiance County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Defiance County has received 8 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Defiance County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Defiance County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Defiance County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Williams County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Paulding County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Defiance County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Defiance County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Defiance 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. Defiance County's composite score of 42 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 42% of US counties.