Orleans County, NY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Orleans County has experienced 24 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Orleans County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, hurricane, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 89% 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. Orleans County has been designated in 24 declarations since 1973, covering 8 disaster types including snowstorm (9), severe storm (5), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2017 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2015 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2007 | Snowstorm | Lake Effect Snowstorm |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 total declarations since 1973.
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 | 12.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 39.9 | 9 | 0 | $1.1M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 13.8 | 8 | 0 | $1.0M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 36.7 | 3 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 28.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 22.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 51.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 48.9 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 37.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 22.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 63.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 29.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 27.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 17.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 10.2 | 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
Orleans County ranks in the 58th 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 | 58th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 64th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 40th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 42nd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 62nd | 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 | 2nd | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 3rd | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 67.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 21 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 19 in 2016–20 vs 2 in 2021–25 (-89% — 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 Orleans County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Orleans County, New York are ice storm, hurricane, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Orleans County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Orleans County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is snowstorm (9 declarations).
Has Orleans County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Orleans County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Orleans County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Erie County, NY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Wyoming County, NY has the lowest (Very Low). Orleans County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Orleans County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Orleans 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. Orleans County's composite score of 18 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 18% of US counties.