Oswego County, NY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Oswego County has experienced 21 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Severe Storm And Flooding in 2025. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Oswego County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, ice storm, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 42% 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. Oswego County has been designated in 21 declarations since 1972, covering 9 disaster types including flood (6), severe storm (3), snowstorm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm And Flooding |
| 2023 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2007 | Snowstorm | Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Snowstorm | Snow |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 total declarations since 1972.
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 | 35.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 82.1 | 26 | 0 | $4.5M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 33.6 | 12 | 0 | $1.5M |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 65.3 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 47.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 43.1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 60.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 24.2 | 28 | 0 | $25K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 67.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 93.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 83.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 23.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 63.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 43.3 | 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
Oswego County ranks in the 60th 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 | 60th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 61st | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 21st | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 20th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 92nd | 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 | 5th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 5th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 79.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 68 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 43 in 2016–20 vs 25 in 2021–25 (-42% — 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 Oswego County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Oswego County, New York are winter weather, ice storm, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Oswego County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Oswego County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2025. The most common disaster type on record is flood (6 declarations).
Has Oswego County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Oswego County include Severe Storm And Flooding (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Oswego County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Onondaga County, NY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Lewis County, NY has the lowest (Very Low). Oswego County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Oswego County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Oswego 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. Oswego County's composite score of 68 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 68% of US counties.