Wood County, Ohio Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OH
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 66th
Wood County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 65.7, 66th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $43M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Wood County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 65.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 66th 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 ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $894K in expected annual loss and about 1.27 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 0.32 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 3.27 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $43M in expected annual loss for a population of 132K.
Beyond physical exposure, Wood 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: Wood County has received 10 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 4 for severe storm events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 88 Ohio counties, Wood County ranks #30 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | High | 1.27 / yr | $894K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.32 / yr | $7M |
| Hail | Medium | 3.27 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.18 / yr | $29M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 9.16 / yr | $262K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.62 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 4.47 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 3.42 / yr | $572K |
| Lightning | Low | 39.49 / yr | $358K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $72K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $534 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $0 |
| 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
Wood County has received 10 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (4), Biological (2), Snowstorm (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 |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| November 2002 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| August 1992 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| January 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| February 1977 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| July 1969 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Wood County?
Wood County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 65.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 66th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Wood County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (High, $894K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $7M EAL), Hail (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Wood County compare to other Ohio counties?
Wood County ranks #30 of 88 Ohio counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Wood County had?
FEMA records 10 federal disaster declarations for Wood County since 1969, most often 4 for severe storm events and 2 for biological 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. Wood County's $43M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.