Jefferson County
New York — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 64th
Jefferson County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 64.0, 64th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $26M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | High | 40.21 / yr | $618K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.04 / yr | $502K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.77 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.89 / yr | $19M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $952K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 4.84 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $111K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.42 / yr | $1K |
| Lightning | Low | 25.24 / yr | $222K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 1.53 / yr | $179K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $14K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.13 / yr | $485K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $0 |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.59 / yr | $24K |
| Avalanche | 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 Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 64.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 64th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jefferson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (High, $618K EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $502K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jefferson County compare to other New York counties?
Jefferson County ranks #38 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. Jefferson County's $26M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.