Drought Risk in Pennsylvania
All Pennsylvania counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index drought score
Drought risk — extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture — is rated for 24 of 67 Pennsylvania counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Chester County carries the state's highest drought score at 98.6, with $10M in expected annual drought losses.
2 Pennsylvania counties are rated High or Very High for drought, and expected annual losses from drought total roughly $21M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Drought
| # | County | Drought Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chester County | High | 4.93 / yr | $10M | |
| 2 | Berks County | High | 2.06 / yr | $2M | |
| 3 | Lancaster County | Medium | 4.34 / yr | $2M | |
| 4 | Adams County | Medium | 3.26 / yr | $1M | |
| 5 | York County | Medium | 4.44 / yr | $2M | |
| 6 | Franklin County | Medium | 0.92 / yr | $928K | |
| 7 | Bucks County | Medium | 3.94 / yr | $926K | |
| 8 | Lebanon County | Medium | 1.12 / yr | $526K | |
| 9 | Lehigh County | Medium | 1.74 / yr | $334K | |
| 10 | Montgomery County | Low | 4.10 / yr | $367K | |
| 11 | Cumberland County | Low | 0.41 / yr | $292K | |
| 12 | Northampton County | Low | 1.86 / yr | $228K | |
| 13 | Delaware County | Low | 5.71 / yr | $209K | |
| 14 | Somerset County | Low | 0.31 / yr | $141K | |
| 15 | Dauphin County | Low | 0.37 / yr | $141K | |
| 16 | Washington County | Low | 0.84 / yr | $118K | |
| 17 | Fayette County | Low | 0.82 / yr | $74K | |
| 18 | Greene County | Low | 1.52 / yr | $56K | |
| 19 | Bedford County | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $20K | |
| 20 | Fulton County | Very Low | 0.30 / yr | $14K | |
| 21 | Westmoreland County | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $13K | |
| 22 | Philadelphia County | Very Low | 5.76 / yr | $4K | |
| 23 | Pike County | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $641 | |
| 24 | Perry County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $332 |
24 Pennsylvania counties with measurable drought risk. See the national drought ranking or all Pennsylvania counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Pennsylvania county has the highest drought risk?
Chester County has the highest FEMA drought risk score in Pennsylvania at 98.6 (High), with $10M in expected annual losses and about 4.93 events per year.
How many Pennsylvania counties face significant drought risk?
24 Pennsylvania counties record measurable drought risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 2 of them are rated High or Very High.