Belmont County, Ohio Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OH
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 75th
Belmont County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 75.2, 75th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $29M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Belmont County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 75.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 75th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Belmont County's expected losses come from lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 42.83 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $44K in expected annual loss and about 1.27 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $25M in expected annual loss and about 3.36 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $29M in expected annual loss for a population of 66K.
Beyond physical exposure, Belmont County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The federal record bears this out: Belmont County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 10 for severe storm events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 88 Ohio counties, Belmont County ranks #19 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 42.83 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Medium | 1.27 / yr | $44K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 3.36 / yr | $25M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.46 / yr | $156K |
| Hail | Low | 3.14 / yr | $313K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.32 / yr | $454K |
| Drought | Low | 6.02 / yr | $189K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.14 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $106K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.76 / yr | $383K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $140K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $23K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 9.47 / yr | $20K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 2.63 / yr | $56K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Belmont County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Flood (7), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| April 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| August 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| June 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| July 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Belmont County?
Belmont County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 75.2 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 75th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Belmont County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $44K EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $25M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Belmont County compare to other Ohio counties?
Belmont County ranks #19 of 88 Ohio counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Belmont County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Belmont County since 1972, most often 10 for severe storm events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in March 2020.
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. Belmont County's $29M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.