Richland County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Richland County has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Tornadoes in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Richland County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, hail, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 27% 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. Richland County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1969, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (7), snowstorm (4), tornado (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2008 | Snowstorm | Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 total declarations since 1969.
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 | 35.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 71.6 | 13 | 0 | $863K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 56.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 68.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 62.3 | 4 | 0 | $1.5M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 44.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 88.9 | 28 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 70 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 87.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 89 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 43.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 68.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 56.7 | 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
Richland County ranks in the 53rd 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 | 53rd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 52nd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 35th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 44th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 68th | 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 | 16th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 16th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 49.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 38 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 22 in 2016–20 vs 16 in 2021–25 (-27% — 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 Richland County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Richland County, Ohio are ice storm, hail, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Richland County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Richland County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (7 declarations).
Has Richland County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Richland County include Tornadoes (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1969.
How does Richland County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Wayne County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Morrow County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Richland County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Richland County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Richland 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. Richland County's composite score of 61 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 61% of US counties.