Fulton County, PA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Fulton County has experienced 17 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Remnants Of Hurricane Ida in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Fulton County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, hurricane, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 17% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (12th 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 17 declarations since 1972, covering 5 disaster types including hurricane (5), snowstorm (4), flood (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Flood | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004 | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 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 | 22.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 21.5 | 13 | 1 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 34.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 18 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 15.5 | 4 | 0 | $66K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 71.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 17.5 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 34 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 21.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 9.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 5.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 11.5 | 2 | 0 | $15K |
| Drought | Very Low | 25.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 83.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 22.4 | — | — | — |
| 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 12th 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 | 12th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 18th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 27th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 9th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 15th | 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 | 40th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 41st | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 86.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 26 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 12 in 2016–20 vs 14 in 2021–25 (+17% — 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 Fulton County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Fulton County, Pennsylvania are landslide, hurricane, and earthquake. 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 17 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (5 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 Remnants Of Hurricane Ida in 2021.
How does Fulton County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Franklin County, PA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Morgan County, WV 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 8 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 8% of US counties.