Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · PA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 92th
Luzerne County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 91.6, 92th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $88M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Luzerne County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 91.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 92nd 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.
Most of Luzerne County's expected losses come from winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Very High risk — $844K in expected annual loss and about 13.32 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 33.11 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at High risk — $64M in expected annual loss and about 2.46 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $88M in expected annual loss for a population of 325K.
Beyond physical exposure, Luzerne County has a high 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). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The federal record bears this out: Luzerne County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 7 for hurricane events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Remnants of Hurricane Ida (hurricane), declared in September 2021.
Among 67 Pennsylvania counties, Luzerne County ranks #10 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | Very High | 13.32 / yr | $844K |
| Lightning | High | 33.11 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 2.46 / yr | $64M |
| Cold Wave | High | 2.79 / yr | $9M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 2.47 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.04 / yr | $3M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.96 / yr | $415K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.35 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.33 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.77 / yr | $10K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $48K |
| Hail | Low | 2.03 / yr | $243K |
| 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
Luzerne County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (7), Flood (6), Severe Storm (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| September 2011 | Flood | Tropical Storm Lee |
| September 2011 | Flood | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| September 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| August 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| February 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| June 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
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 Luzerne County?
Luzerne County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 91.6 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 92th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Luzerne County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (Very High, $844K EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $64M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Luzerne County compare to other Pennsylvania counties?
Luzerne County ranks #10 of 67 Pennsylvania counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Luzerne County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Luzerne County since 1972, most often 7 for hurricane events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared in September 2021.
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. Luzerne County's $88M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.