Beaver County, Pennsylvania Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · PA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 75th
Beaver County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 75.3, 75th national percentile), driven primarily by riverine flood and landslide 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 Beaver County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 75.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 75th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $30M in expected annual loss and about 2.68 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $21K in expected annual loss and about 0.77 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 2.48 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $35M in expected annual loss for a population of 168K.
Beyond physical exposure, Beaver 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: Beaver County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 3 for hurricane events and 3 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 67 Pennsylvania counties, Beaver County ranks #31 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.68 / yr | $30M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.77 / yr | $21K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.48 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 41.15 / yr | $649K |
| Hail | Medium | 4.10 / yr | $678K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.53 / yr | $154K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.19 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $369K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $115K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 1.95 / yr | $308K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 11.00 / yr | $38K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $19K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $115 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 2.95 / yr | $179K |
| 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
Beaver County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (3), Snowstorm (3), Severe Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| April 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| September 2004 | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances |
| June 1998 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes,and Flooding |
| June 1996 | Flood | Flooding, Severe Storms |
| January 1996 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
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 Beaver County?
Beaver County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 75.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 75th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Beaver County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Riverine Flood (Medium, $30M EAL), Landslide (Low, $21K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Beaver County compare to other Pennsylvania counties?
Beaver County ranks #31 of 67 Pennsylvania counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Beaver County had?
FEMA records 15 federal disaster declarations for Beaver County since 1972, most often 3 for hurricane events and 3 for snowstorm 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. Beaver County's $35M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.