Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · PA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 90th
Lackawanna County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 89.9, 90th national percentile), driven primarily by riverine flood and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $72M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Lackawanna County carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 89.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 90th 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.
Risk here concentrates in riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at High risk — $57M in expected annual loss and about 1.68 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at High risk — $427K in expected annual loss and about 13.79 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 31.32 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $72M in expected annual loss for a population of 216K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lackawanna County has a high 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). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Lackawanna County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 7 for severe storm events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 67 Pennsylvania counties, Lackawanna County ranks #14 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.68 / yr | $57M |
| Winter Weather | High | 13.79 / yr | $427K |
| Lightning | High | 31.32 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | High | 2.95 / yr | $6M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 2.48 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.04 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $999K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.51 / yr | $7K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.53 / yr | $177K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.15 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.71 / yr | $671K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $25K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $157 |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.10 / yr | $91K |
| 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
Lackawanna County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (7), Flood (7), Hurricane (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| November 2018 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| September 2011 | Flood | Tropical Storm Lee |
| September 2011 | Flood | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| February 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| June 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| April 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Lackawanna County?
Lackawanna County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 89.9 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 90th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lackawanna County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Riverine Flood (High, $57M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $427K EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lackawanna County compare to other Pennsylvania counties?
Lackawanna County ranks #14 of 67 Pennsylvania counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Lackawanna County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Lackawanna County since 1972, most often 7 for severe storm events and 7 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. Lackawanna County's $72M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.