Darke County, Ohio Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OH
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 53th
Darke County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 52.7, 53th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $20M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Darke County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 52.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 53rd 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.
Risk here concentrates in tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.43 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 3.30 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $20M in expected annual loss for a population of 52K.
Beyond physical exposure, Darke County has a low 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). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Darke County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 5 for severe storm events and 3 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Tornadoes (tornado), declared in May 2024.
Among 88 Ohio counties, Darke County ranks #50 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | Medium | 0.43 / yr | $5M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.30 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.04 / yr | $11M |
| Hail | Low | 3.72 / yr | $424K |
| Lightning | Low | 44.67 / yr | $214K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.89 / yr | $69K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $30K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 12.37 / yr | $44K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $548 |
| Cold Wave | Low | 4.79 / yr | $604K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 4.16 / yr | $149K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Darke County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Tornadoes in May 2024. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (5), Snowstorm (3), Tornado (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2019 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide |
| June 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| January 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| July 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 13 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Darke County?
Darke County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 52.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 53th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Darke County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Medium, $5M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Darke County compare to other Ohio counties?
Darke County ranks #50 of 88 Ohio counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Darke County had?
FEMA records 13 federal disaster declarations for Darke County since 1977, most often 5 for severe storm events and 3 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Tornadoes, declared in May 2024.
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. Darke County's $20M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.