Bucks County
Pennsylvania — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
Bucks County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.8, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $203M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.43 / yr | $4M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 12.32 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 4.43 / yr | $141M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 9.64 / yr | $7M |
| Strong Wind | High | 7.03 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $13M |
| Tornado | High | 0.29 / yr | $10M |
| Lightning | High | 33.98 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.89 / yr | $9M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.08 / yr | $7M |
| Drought | Medium | 3.94 / yr | $926K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 6.16 / yr | $922K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.23 / yr | $3K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $78K |
| Hail | Low | 2.63 / yr | $215K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $42 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bucks County?
Bucks County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.8 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 95th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Bucks County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $4M EAL), Winter Weather (Very High, $2M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $141M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Bucks County compare to other Pennsylvania counties?
Bucks County ranks #5 of 67 Pennsylvania counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
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. Bucks County's $203M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.