Lucas County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Lucas County has experienced 16 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Lucas County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, hail, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 66% 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. Lucas County has been designated in 16 declarations since 1965, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (5), flood (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2003 | Other | Power Outage |
| 2000 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1992 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 total declarations since 1965.
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 | 36.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 95.4 | 6 | 0 | $15.2M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 42.8 | 9 | 0 | $335K |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 88.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 85.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 97.3 | 3 | 0 | $331K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 56.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively High | 96 | 31 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 94.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 86.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 95.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 92 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 90.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 39 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 37.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Lucas County ranks in the 68th 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 | 68th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 65th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 63rd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 70th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 58th | 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 | 4th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 4th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 11.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 43 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 32 in 2016–20 vs 11 in 2021–25 (-66% — 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 Lucas County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Lucas County, Ohio are tornado, hail, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Lucas County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Lucas County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Lucas County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Lucas County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Lucas County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Monroe County, MI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Fulton County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Lucas County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Lucas County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Lucas 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. Lucas County's composite score of 92 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 92% of US counties.