Newport County, RI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Newport County has experienced 22 federally declared disasters since 1978, most recently Severe Storms And Flooding in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Newport County's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, coastal flooding, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (28th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Newport County has been designated in 22 declarations since 1978, covering 4 disaster types including hurricane (8), severe storm (6), snowstorm (6).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2022 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Irene |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 total declarations since 1978.
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 | 13.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 53 | 6 | 0 | $74K |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 61.4 | 2 | 0 | $2K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 57.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 34.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 17 | 1 | 0 | $5K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 80.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 35.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 32.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 30.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 18.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 50 | 1 | 0 | $5K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 42 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 9.8 | 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
Newport County ranks in the 28th percentile (Low) 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 | 28th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 22nd | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 19th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 45th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 54th | 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 | 7th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 8th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 26.2% | — |
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 Newport County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Newport County, Rhode Island are hurricane, coastal flooding, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Newport County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Newport County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1978, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (8 declarations).
Has Newport County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Newport County include Severe Storms And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1978.
How does Newport County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Providence County, RI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Dukes County, MA has the lowest (Very Low). Newport County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Newport County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Newport 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. Newport County's composite score of 36 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 36% of US counties.