Washington County, NY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Washington County has experienced 16 federally declared disasters since 1976, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Washington County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, lightning, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 25% 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. Washington County has been designated in 16 declarations since 1976, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (3), severe storm (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2003 | Other | Power Outage |
| 2002 | Earthquake | Earthquake |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 total declarations since 1976.
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 | 20.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 70.7 | 82 | 0 | $32.2M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 59.2 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 41.4 | 43 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 43.7 | 1 | 0 | $75K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 72.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 41.2 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 27.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 37.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 57.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 65.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 79.7 | 2 | 0 | $40K |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 83.4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 56.4 | — | — | — |
| 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
Washington County ranks in the 41st 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 | 41st | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 45th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 25th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 25th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 61st | 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 | 14th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 14th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 69.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 133 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 59 in 2016–20 vs 74 in 2021–25 (+25% — 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 Washington County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Washington County, New York are landslide, lightning, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Washington County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Washington County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1976, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (3 declarations).
Has Washington County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Washington County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Washington County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Rensselaer County, NY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Rutland County, VT has the lowest (Relatively Low). Washington County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Washington County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Washington 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. Washington County's composite score of 57 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 57% of US counties.