Muskingum County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Muskingum County has experienced 17 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Muskingum County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, inland flooding, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 86% 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. Muskingum County has been designated in 17 declarations since 1969, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (7), flood (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslide |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 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 17 total declarations since 1969.
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 | 33.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 83.8 | 20 | 0 | $320K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 51.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 62.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 56.3 | 9 | 0 | $1.5M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 43.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 79.3 | 35 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 61.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 66.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 72.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 26.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 70 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 67.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 84.7 | 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
Muskingum County ranks in the 51st 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 | 51st | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 50th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 48th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 26th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 64th | 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 | 27th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 26th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 62.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 63 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 22 in 2016–20 vs 41 in 2021–25 (+86% — 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 Muskingum County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Muskingum County, Ohio are landslide, inland flooding, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Muskingum County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Muskingum County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (7 declarations).
Has Muskingum County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Muskingum County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Muskingum County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Licking County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Noble County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Muskingum County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Muskingum County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Muskingum 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. Muskingum County's composite score of 71 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 71% of US counties.