Clarion County, Pennsylvania Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · PA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 30th
Clarion County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 30.0, 30th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Clarion County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 30.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 30th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Clarion County's expected losses come from lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $670K in expected annual loss and about 38.45 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $5K in expected annual loss and about 0.63 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $266K in expected annual loss and about 0.03 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 37K.
Beyond physical exposure, Clarion County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a 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: Clarion County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 5 for flood events and 3 for hurricane events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 67 Pennsylvania counties, Clarion County ranks #61 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Medium | 38.45 / yr | $670K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.63 / yr | $5K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.03 / yr | $266K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.54 / yr | $6M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.26 / yr | $415K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $245 |
| Cold Wave | Low | 3.84 / yr | $479K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $82K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 15.74 / yr | $28K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.22 / yr | $414K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.42 / yr | $15K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.63 / yr | $23K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.55 / yr | $35K |
| 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
Clarion County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Flood (5), Hurricane (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances |
| September 2004 | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan |
| August 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| July 1996 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| January 1996 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| March 1993 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
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 Clarion County?
Clarion County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 30.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 30th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Clarion County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Medium, $670K EAL), Landslide (Low, $5K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $266K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Clarion County compare to other Pennsylvania counties?
Clarion County ranks #61 of 67 Pennsylvania counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Clarion County had?
FEMA records 14 federal disaster declarations for Clarion County since 1972, most often 5 for flood events and 3 for hurricane 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. Clarion County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.