Perry County, Pennsylvania Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · PA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 53th
Perry County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 53.1, 53th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $18M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Perry County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 53.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 53rd national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Perry County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $28K in expected annual loss and about 0.93 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $189K in expected annual loss and about 12.21 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.07 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $18M in expected annual loss for a population of 46K.
Beyond physical exposure, Perry County has a low 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: Perry County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 7 for flood events and 4 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 67 Pennsylvania counties, Perry County ranks #55 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 0.93 / yr | $28K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 12.21 / yr | $189K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.07 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.32 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.35 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.18 / yr | $13M |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $304 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $147K |
| Lightning | Low | 35.11 / yr | $132K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.26 / yr | $582K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $11K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.21 / yr | $203K |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $332 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.42 / yr | $7K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.07 / yr | $8K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Perry County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Flood (7), Snowstorm (4), Severe Storm (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2016 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| September 2011 | Flood | Tropical Storm Lee |
| September 2011 | Flood | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| April 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms |
| June 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| September 2004 | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Perry County?
Perry County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 53.1 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 53th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Perry County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $28K EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $189K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Perry County compare to other Pennsylvania counties?
Perry County ranks #55 of 67 Pennsylvania counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Perry County had?
FEMA records 20 federal disaster declarations for Perry County since 1972, most often 7 for flood events and 4 for snowstorm 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. Perry County's $18M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.