Medina County, Ohio Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OH
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 69th
Medina County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 69.0, 69th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $35M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Medina County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 69.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 69th 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 winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at High risk — $423K in expected annual loss and about 12.74 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 2.22 events per year; and ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $813K in expected annual loss and about 0.62 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $35M in expected annual loss for a population of 182K.
Beyond physical exposure, Medina County has a very 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: Medina County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 6 for severe storm events and 3 for tornado events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 88 Ohio counties, Medina County ranks #26 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | High | 12.74 / yr | $423K |
| Strong Wind | High | 2.22 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.62 / yr | $813K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.19 / yr | $6M |
| Hail | Medium | 3.97 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.57 / yr | $21M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.05 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 41.44 / yr | $544K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $308K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $48K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 4.05 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $35K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $385 |
| 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
Medina County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (6), Tornado (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| June 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| August 2003 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds |
| November 2002 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| August 1992 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Medina County?
Medina County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 69.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 69th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Medina County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (High, $423K EAL), Strong Wind (High, $2M EAL), Ice Storm (High, $813K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Medina County compare to other Ohio counties?
Medina County ranks #26 of 88 Ohio counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Medina County had?
FEMA records 14 federal disaster declarations for Medina County since 1965, most often 6 for severe storm events and 3 for tornado 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. Medina County's $35M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.