Guernsey County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Guernsey County has experienced 17 federally declared disasters since 1968, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Guernsey County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, hail, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 75% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Guernsey County has been designated in 17 declarations since 1968, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (10), flood (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 total declarations since 1968.
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 | 31.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 58.9 | 27 | 0 | $28K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 38.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 47.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 36.8 | 2 | 0 | $400K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 40.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 62.9 | 31 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 39.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 42.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 56.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 13.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 59.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 62.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 86.6 | 1 | 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
Guernsey County ranks in the 54th 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 | 54th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 68th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 54th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 13th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 46th | 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 | 30th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 28th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 73.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 55 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 20 in 2016–20 vs 35 in 2021–25 (+75% — 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 Guernsey County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Guernsey County, Ohio are landslide, hail, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Guernsey County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Guernsey County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Guernsey County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Guernsey County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Guernsey County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Belmont County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Harrison County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Guernsey County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Guernsey County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Guernsey 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. Guernsey County's composite score of 38 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 38% of US counties.