Summit County, Ohio Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OH
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 91th
Summit County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 91.2, 91th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $102M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Summit County carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 91.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 91st national percentile and near the national midpoint 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 hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at High risk — $13M in expected annual loss and about 4.04 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 2.24 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at High risk — $772K in expected annual loss and about 13.95 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $102M in expected annual loss for a population of 540K.
Beyond physical exposure, Summit 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.
History supports the rating: Summit County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1969, 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, Summit County ranks #7 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | High | 4.04 / yr | $13M |
| Strong Wind | High | 2.24 / yr | $4M |
| Winter Weather | High | 13.95 / yr | $772K |
| Lightning | High | 41.46 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.68 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.39 / yr | $65M |
| Tornado | High | 0.19 / yr | $8M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 2.00 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 3.95 / yr | $3M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.01 / yr | $239K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $57K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $2K |
| 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
Summit County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1969, 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 |
| October 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| June 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2003 | Other | Power Outage |
| August 2003 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds |
| November 2002 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
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 Summit County?
Summit County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 91.2 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 91th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Summit County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (High, $13M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $4M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $772K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Summit County compare to other Ohio counties?
Summit County ranks #7 of 88 Ohio counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Summit County had?
FEMA records 14 federal disaster declarations for Summit County since 1969, 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. Summit County's $102M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.