Ross County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Ross County has experienced 16 federally declared disasters since 1968, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Ross County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, lightning, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 82 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Ross County has been designated in 16 declarations since 1968, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (9), biological (2), flood (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Record/Near Record Snow |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 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 | 48.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 74.5 | 64 | 1 | $122K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 53.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 78 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 56.3 | 5 | 0 | $495K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 35.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 59.7 | 11 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 57.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 59.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 77.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 26 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 93 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 68.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 93.4 | 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
Ross County ranks in the 59th 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 | 59th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 64th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 36th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 33rd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 73rd | 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 | 23rd | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 63.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 82 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 41 in 2016–20 vs 41 in 2021–25 (0% — relatively stable).
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 Ross County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Ross County, Ohio are landslide, lightning, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Ross County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Ross County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (9 declarations).
Has Ross County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Ross County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Ross County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Pickaway County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Vinton County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Ross County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Ross County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Ross 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. Ross County's composite score of 63 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 63% of US counties.