Lake County, Ohio Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OH
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 77th
Lake County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 77.4, 77th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $42M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lake County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 77.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 77th 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 Lake County's expected losses come from winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at High risk — $760K in expected annual loss and about 23.83 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $31M in expected annual loss and about 1.39 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.55 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $42M in expected annual loss for a population of 232K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lake 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 federal record bears this out: Lake County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 5 for flood events and 3 for severe storm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 88 Ohio counties, Lake County ranks #16 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | High | 23.83 / yr | $760K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.39 / yr | $31M |
| Strong Wind | High | 1.55 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.98 / yr | $461K |
| Hail | Medium | 2.68 / yr | $868K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.23 / yr | $4M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 1.32 / yr | $893K |
| Lightning | Medium | 38.00 / yr | $405K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 3.00 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $532K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $79K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $15K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $15K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $127 |
| 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
Lake County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Flood (5), Severe Storm (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| April 2008 | Snowstorm | Record Snow and Near Record Snow |
| August 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2003 | Other | Power Outage |
| June 1989 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| January 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Lake County?
Lake County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 77.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 77th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lake County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (High, $760K EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $31M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lake County compare to other Ohio counties?
Lake County ranks #16 of 88 Ohio counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Lake County had?
FEMA records 15 federal disaster declarations for Lake County since 1969, most often 5 for flood events and 3 for severe storm 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. Lake County's $42M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.