Pike County, PA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Pike County has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Pike County's highest-rated hazards are inland flooding, hurricane, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (24th 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. Pike County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1965, covering 6 disaster types including hurricane (6), severe storm (4), flood (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004 | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 total declarations since 1965.
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 | Relatively Low | 71.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 78.8 | 5 | 0 | $92K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 56.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 39.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 27.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 76.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 10.8 | 4 | 0 | $2K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 62.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 63.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 38.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 76.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 56 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 15.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 67.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 42.8 | — | — | — |
| 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
Pike County ranks in the 24th percentile (Very 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 | 24th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 44th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 35th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 56th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 4th | Very low |
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 | 42nd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 43rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 92.9% | — |
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 Pike County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Pike County, Pennsylvania are inland flooding, hurricane, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Pike County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Pike County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (6 declarations).
Has Pike County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Pike County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Pike County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lackawanna County, PA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Wayne County, PA has the lowest (Relatively Low). Pike County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Pike County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Pike 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. Pike County's composite score of 66 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 66% of US counties.