Hardin County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hardin County has experienced 12 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Hardin County's highest-rated hazards are lightning, hail, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 85% 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. Hardin County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1977, covering 4 disaster types including severe storm (5), snowstorm (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2008 | Snowstorm | Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 total declarations since 1977.
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 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 40.2 | 16 | 0 | $7K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 48.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 23.5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 36.3 | 4 | 0 | $640K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 43.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 58.9 | 11 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 55.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 48.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 45.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 44.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 65.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 26.4 | 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
Hardin County ranks in the 52nd 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 | 52nd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 55th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 18th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 12th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 86th | High |
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 | 31.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 31 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 27 in 2016–20 vs 4 in 2021–25 (-85% — 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 Hardin County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hardin County, Ohio are lightning, hail, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Hardin County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hardin County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Hardin County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Hardin County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Hardin County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Allen County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Wyandot County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Hardin County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Hardin County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hardin 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. Hardin County's composite score of 24 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 24% of US counties.