Forest County, PA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Forest County has experienced 12 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.
Forest County's highest-rated hazards are lightning, landslide, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Forest County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1972, covering 6 disaster types including hurricane (4), biological (2), severe storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 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 And Flooding |
| 1993 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 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 | 4.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 43.5 | 1 | 0 | $5K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 19.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 4.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 14 | 5 | 0 | $25K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 52.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.4 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 19.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 12.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 10.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 13.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 90.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 60.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 45.5 | — | — | — |
| 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
Forest County ranks in the 51st percentile (Moderate) 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 | 51st | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 48th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 21st | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 68th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 66th | 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 | 15th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 93.6% | — |
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 Forest County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Forest 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 Forest County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Forest County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (4 declarations).
Has Forest County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Forest County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Forest County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Warren County, PA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Clarion County, PA has the lowest (Very Low). Forest County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Forest County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Forest 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. Forest County's composite score of 20 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 20% of US counties.