Lake County
Ohio — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
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
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 |
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.
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.