Seneca County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Seneca County has experienced 13 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Seneca County's highest-rated hazards are hail, ice storm, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 36% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (23rd percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Seneca County has been designated in 13 declarations since 1965, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (5), snowstorm (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 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 |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 13 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 | 2.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 61.2 | 5 | 0 | $250K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 57.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 34.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 58 | 3 | 0 | $350K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 44.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 78.7 | 19 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 54.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 71.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 75.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 51.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 53.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 37.8 | 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
Seneca County ranks in the 23rd percentile (Very 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 | 23rd | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 16th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 30th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 33rd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 44th | Low |
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 | 1st | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 1st | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 23.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 26 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 11 in 2016–20 vs 15 in 2021–25 (+36% — 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 Seneca County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Seneca County, Ohio are hail, ice storm, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Seneca County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Seneca County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Seneca County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Seneca County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Seneca County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Ottawa County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Wyandot County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Seneca County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Seneca County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Seneca 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. Seneca County's composite score of 47 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 47% of US counties.