Essex County
New York — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 63th
Essex County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 62.7, 63th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and avalanche exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $21M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | High | 4.01 / yr | $538K |
| Avalanche | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $457K |
| Lightning | Medium | 22.77 / yr | $680K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 3.07 / yr | $16M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.24 / yr | $265K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $868K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 20.55 / yr | $111K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.02 / yr | $339K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 4.96 / yr | $919K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.85 / yr | $334K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.82 / yr | $128K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $9K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $298K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.17 / yr | $37K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Essex County?
Essex County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 62.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 63th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Essex County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (High, $538K EAL), Avalanche (Medium, $457K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $680K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Essex County compare to other New York counties?
Essex County ranks #40 of 62 New York counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Essex County's $21M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.