Cuyahoga County, Ohio Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OH
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
Cuyahoga County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.0, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $282M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Cuyahoga County is high, with a National Risk Index score of 98.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 98th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Very High risk — $50M in expected annual loss and about 3.68 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Very High risk — $33M in expected annual loss and about 0.42 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at High risk — $178M in expected annual loss and about 2.75 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $282M in expected annual loss for a population of 1.26M.
Beyond physical exposure, Cuyahoga County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Cuyahoga County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 6 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 88 Ohio counties, Cuyahoga County ranks #2 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | Very High | 3.68 / yr | $50M |
| Tornado | Very High | 0.42 / yr | $33M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 2.75 / yr | $178M |
| Heat Wave | High | 2.21 / yr | $11M |
| Strong Wind | High | 2.03 / yr | $3M |
| Winter Weather | High | 19.42 / yr | $755K |
| Lightning | High | 39.96 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.91 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.01 / yr | $229K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $60K |
| Hail | Low | 3.66 / yr | $284K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $387 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $6K |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Cuyahoga County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (6), Flood (4), Tornado (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| January 2013 | Hurricane | Severe Storms and Flooding Due to the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy |
| June 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| July 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| June 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2003 | Other | Power Outage |
| August 2003 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cuyahoga County?
Cuyahoga County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.0 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 98th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Cuyahoga County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Very High, $50M EAL), Tornado (Very High, $33M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $178M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Cuyahoga County compare to other Ohio counties?
Cuyahoga County ranks #2 of 88 Ohio counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Cuyahoga County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Cuyahoga County since 1965, most often 6 for severe storm events and 4 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. Cuyahoga County's $282M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.