Fulton County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Fulton County has experienced 9 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Fulton County's highest-rated hazards are drought, tornado, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (6th 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. Fulton County has been designated in 9 declarations since 1969, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (3), biological (2), hurricane (1).
| 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 |
| 1992 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1982 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1969 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Severe Storms & Flooding |
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 | 8.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 41.7 | 2 | 0 | $1K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 58.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 35 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 66.9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 28.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 65 | 12 | 0 | $1K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 53.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 43.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 61.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 40.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 20.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 75.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 25.7 | 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
Fulton County ranks in the 6th percentile (Very 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 | 6th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 7th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 45th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 36th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 3rd | 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 | 32.8% | — |
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 Fulton County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Fulton County, Ohio are drought, tornado, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Fulton County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Fulton County has received 9 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (3 declarations).
Has Fulton County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Fulton County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Fulton County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lucas County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Henry County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Fulton County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Fulton County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Fulton 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. Fulton County's composite score of 34 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 34% of US counties.