Union County, PA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Union County has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Tropical Storm Debby in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Union County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, winter weather, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Union County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1972, covering 7 disaster types including flood (6), hurricane (3), severe storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Flood | Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011 | Flood | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004 | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Snow |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 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 | 10.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 71.8 | 6 | 0 | $25K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 43.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 44.7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 33.7 | 4 | 0 | $155K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 74.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 9.8 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 83.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 79.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 19.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 20.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 53.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 64.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 33.5 | — | — | — |
| 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
Union County ranks in the 45th 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 | 45th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 47th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 7th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 42nd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 82nd | High |
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 | 35th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 36th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 58.3% | — |
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 Union County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Union County, Pennsylvania are strong wind, winter weather, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Union County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Union County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is flood (6 declarations).
Has Union County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Union County include Tropical Storm Debby (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Union County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lycoming County, PA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Montour County, PA has the lowest (Very Low). Union County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Union County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Union 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. Union County's composite score of 55 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 55% of US counties.