Berks County, Pennsylvania Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · PA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 93th
Berks County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 92.7, 93th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $120M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Berks County is medium, with a National Risk Index score of 92.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 93rd 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 12.63 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 6.22 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 34.92 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $120M in expected annual loss for a population of 429K.
Beyond physical exposure, Berks County has a medium 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: Berks County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 7 for severe storm events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 67 Pennsylvania counties, Berks County ranks #8 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | Very High | 12.63 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | High | 6.22 / yr | $5M |
| Lightning | High | 34.92 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 4.82 / yr | $69M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 6.32 / yr | $5M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.00 / yr | $9M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.06 / yr | $12M |
| Landslide | Medium | 0.84 / yr | $67K |
| Drought | High | 2.06 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $6M |
| Tornado | High | 0.47 / yr | $7M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.39 / yr | $310K |
| Hail | Low | 2.64 / yr | $477K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $21K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $122 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Berks County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (7), Flood (6), Hurricane (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2016 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| September 2011 | Flood | Tropical Storm Lee |
| September 2011 | Flood | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| June 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| September 2004 | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Berks County?
Berks County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 92.7 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 93th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Berks County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (Very High, $2M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $5M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Berks County compare to other Pennsylvania counties?
Berks County ranks #8 of 67 Pennsylvania counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Berks County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Berks County since 1965, most often 7 for severe storm events and 6 for flood 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. Berks County's $120M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.