Wayne County, NY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Wayne County has experienced 17 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Wayne County's highest-rated hazards are hail, ice storm, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 68% 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. Wayne County has been designated in 17 declarations since 1972, covering 8 disaster types including flood (3), snowstorm (3), severe storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2003 | Other | Power Outage |
| 2003 | Severe Ice Storm | Ice Storm |
| 2001 | Other | West Nile Virus |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 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 | 40.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 72.3 | 9 | 0 | $5.7M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 16.4 | 10 | 0 | $1.0M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 55 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 46.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 38.3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 57.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 83.5 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 65.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 34.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 74.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 26 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 51.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 34.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 45.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Wayne County ranks in the 36th 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 | 36th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 32nd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 34th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 34th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 53rd | 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 | 5th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 5th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 78.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 25 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 19 in 2016–20 vs 6 in 2021–25 (-68% — 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 Wayne County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Wayne County, New York are hail, ice storm, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Wayne County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Wayne County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (3 declarations).
Has Wayne County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Wayne County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Wayne County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Monroe County, NY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Seneca County, NY has the lowest (Very Low). Wayne County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Wayne County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Wayne 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. Wayne County's composite score of 56 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 56% of US counties.