Providence County, RI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Providence County has experienced 25 federally declared disasters since 1978, most recently Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Providence County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, inland flooding, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 76% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (81st percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Providence County has been designated in 25 declarations since 1978, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (7), snowstorm (7), hurricane (7).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm And Flooding |
| 2022 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 total declarations since 1978.
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 | 31.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 96.6 | 80 | 0 | $1.1M |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Low | 56.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 89.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 97.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 78.3 | 6 | 0 | $1.3M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 91.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 75.1 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 53.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 37.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 87.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 90.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 89 | 6 | 0 | $80K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 34.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 74.7 | 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
Providence County ranks in the 81st percentile (High) 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 | 81st | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 68th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 59th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 80th | High |
| 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 | 16th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 18th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 16.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 102 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 37 in 2016–20 vs 65 in 2021–25 (+76% — frequency increasing).
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 Providence County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Providence County, Rhode Island are heat wave, inland flooding, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Providence County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Providence County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1978, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (7 declarations).
Has Providence County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Providence County include Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (2024), Severe Storms And Flooding (2024), Severe Storm And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1978.
How does Providence County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Norfolk County, MA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Bristol County, RI has the lowest (Very Low). Providence County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Providence County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Providence 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. Providence County's composite score of 94 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 94% of US counties.