Hamilton County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hamilton County has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1968, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Hamilton County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, heat wave, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 73% 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. Hamilton County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1968, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (7), flood (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2001 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 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 | 47.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 96.9 | 112 | 0 | $5.0M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 92.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 98.9 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very High | 99.4 | 4 | 0 | $410K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 38.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 93.4 | 57 | 0 | $1K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 97.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 93.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 86.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 97.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very High | 96.7 | 3 | 2 | $30K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 32 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 95.4 | 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
Hamilton County ranks in the 59th 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 | 59th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 46th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 52nd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 74th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 67th | 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 | 11th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 9th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 33.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 180 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 142 in 2016–20 vs 38 in 2021–25 (-73% — 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 Hamilton County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hamilton County, Ohio are tornado, heat wave, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Has Hamilton County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hamilton County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (7 declarations).
Has Hamilton County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Hamilton County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Hamilton County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Butler County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Dearborn County, IN has the lowest (Relatively Low). Hamilton County is rated Relatively High overall.
How is Hamilton County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hamilton 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. Hamilton County's composite score of 96 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 96% of US counties.