Steuben County, NY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Steuben County has experienced 24 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Steuben County's highest-rated hazards are inland flooding, landslide, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 573% 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. Steuben County has been designated in 24 declarations since 1972, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (8), flood (6), hurricane (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2022 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Tropical Depression Ivan |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 total declarations since 1972.
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 | 30.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 87.5 | 105 | 1 | $99.7M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 38.6 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 44.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 58.1 | 1 | 0 | $55K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 70.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 48.7 | 18 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 56.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 34.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 47 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 56.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 76.5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 55.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 80.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 56 | — | — | — |
| 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
Steuben County ranks in the 47th 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 | 47th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 43rd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 44th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 19th | Very 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 | 20th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 20th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 70.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 116 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 15 in 2016–20 vs 101 in 2021–25 (+573% — 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 Steuben County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Steuben County, New York are inland flooding, landslide, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Steuben County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Steuben County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (8 declarations).
Has Steuben County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Steuben County include Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Steuben County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Allegany County, NY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Schuyler County, NY has the lowest (Very Low). Steuben County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Steuben County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Steuben 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. Steuben County's composite score of 77 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 77% of US counties.