Schuylkill County, PA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Schuylkill County has experienced 24 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Remnants Of Hurricane Ida in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Schuylkill County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, inland flooding, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 29% 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. Schuylkill County has been designated in 24 declarations since 1965, covering 6 disaster types including flood (7), severe storm (6), hurricane (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2016 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Flood | Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011 | Flood | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 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 | Very Low | 55.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 90.8 | 15 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 71.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 74.3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 66.2 | 2 | 0 | $45K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 82.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 18.2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 90.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 96.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 62.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 78.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 85.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 90.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 39.6 | — | — | — |
| 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
Schuylkill County ranks in the 49th 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 | 49th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 42nd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 64th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 34th | 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 | 42nd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 43rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 54.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 24 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 14 in 2016–20 vs 10 in 2021–25 (-29% — 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 Schuylkill County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania are winter weather, inland flooding, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Schuylkill County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Schuylkill County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is flood (7 declarations).
Has Schuylkill County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Schuylkill County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Remnants Of Hurricane Ida in 2021.
How does Schuylkill County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Berks County, PA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Montour County, PA has the lowest (Very Low). Schuylkill County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Schuylkill County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Schuylkill 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. Schuylkill County's composite score of 85 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 85% of US counties.