Montour County, Pennsylvania Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · PA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 15th
Montour County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 14.7, 15th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Montour County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 14.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 15th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $215K in expected annual loss and about 0.04 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $2K in expected annual loss and about 0.11 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Low risk — $68K in expected annual loss and about 12.32 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 18K.
Beyond physical exposure, Montour County has a medium 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). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: Montour County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 5 for severe storm events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 67 Pennsylvania counties, Montour County ranks #64 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.04 / yr | $215K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $2K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 12.32 / yr | $68K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.75 / yr | $4M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $95K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.83 / yr | $291K |
| Lightning | Low | 33.95 / yr | $107K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.84 / yr | $105K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $221K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $33 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.42 / yr | $141K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.61 / yr | $12K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $492 |
| 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
Montour County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (5), Flood (5), Hurricane (3).
| 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 |
| June 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances |
| September 2004 | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Montour County?
Montour County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 14.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 15th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Montour County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $215K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $2K EAL), Winter Weather (Low, $68K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Montour County compare to other Pennsylvania counties?
Montour County ranks #64 of 67 Pennsylvania counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Montour County had?
FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Montour County since 1972, most often 5 for severe storm events and 5 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. Montour County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.