Perry County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Perry County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1968, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Perry County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, ice storm, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 20% 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. Perry County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1968, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (10), 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 |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1968.
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 | 18.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 47 | 35 | 0 | $297K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 36.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 47.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 32.4 | 2 | 0 | $170K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 19.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 48.6 | 19 | 0 | $3K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 23.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 36.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 67.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 10.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 63.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 65 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 79.6 | 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
Perry County ranks in the 37th 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 | 37th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 44th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 28th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 2nd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 59th | 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 | 25th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 24th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 72.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 54 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 30 in 2016–20 vs 24 in 2021–25 (-20% — 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 Perry County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Perry County, Ohio are landslide, ice storm, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Perry County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Perry County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Perry County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Perry County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Perry 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 Morgan County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Perry County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Perry County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Perry 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. Perry County's composite score of 26 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 26% of US counties.