Potter County, PA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Potter County has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Tropical Storm Debby in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Potter County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, avalanche, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Potter County has been designated in 14 declarations since 1972, covering 6 disaster types including hurricane (4), flood (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004 | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 1996 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 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 | 3.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 55.2 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 21.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 6.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 15 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 58.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.9 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 53.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 52.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 16.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 23.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 42.7 | 1 | 0 | $2K |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 83.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 66.5 | — | — | — |
| 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
Potter County ranks in the 41st 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 | 41st | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 40th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 54th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 4th | Very 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 | 19th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 19th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 89.5% | — |
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 Potter County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Potter County, Pennsylvania are landslide, avalanche, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Potter County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Potter County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (4 declarations).
Has Potter County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Potter County include Tropical Storm Debby (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Potter County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Steuben County, NY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Cameron County, PA has the lowest (Very Low). Potter County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Potter County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Potter 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. Potter County's composite score of 28 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 28% of US counties.