Hocking County, Ohio Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OH
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 47th
Hocking County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 47.3, 47th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hocking County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 47.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 47th 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 landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $35K in expected annual loss and about 1.00 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $494K in expected annual loss and about 46.14 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Low risk — $12M in expected annual loss and about 2.50 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $14M in expected annual loss for a population of 28K.
Beyond physical exposure, Hocking County has a medium 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Hocking County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including 10 for severe storm events and 3 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 88 Ohio counties, Hocking County ranks #55 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 1.00 / yr | $35K |
| Lightning | Medium | 46.14 / yr | $494K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.50 / yr | $12M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.86 / yr | $191K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.16 / yr | $325K |
| Hail | Low | 2.81 / yr | $222K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 11.42 / yr | $40K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $102K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.16 / yr | $599K |
| Drought | Low | 4.71 / yr | $31K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.36 / yr | $236K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $4K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 2.63 / yr | $142K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| 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
Hocking County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1968, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Flood (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2019 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide |
| April 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| August 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| June 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| July 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| October 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Hocking County?
Hocking County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 47.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 47th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Hocking County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $35K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $494K EAL), Riverine Flood (Low, $12M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Hocking County compare to other Ohio counties?
Hocking County ranks #55 of 88 Ohio counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Hocking County had?
FEMA records 18 federal disaster declarations for Hocking County since 1968, most often 10 for severe storm events and 3 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. Hocking County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.