Snyder County, Pennsylvania Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · PA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 54th
Snyder County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 54.3, 54th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $15M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Snyder County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 54.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 54th 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 Snyder County's expected losses come from winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $175K in expected annual loss and about 12.58 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $10K in expected annual loss and about 0.39 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.06 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $15M in expected annual loss for a population of 40K.
Beyond physical exposure, Snyder 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: Snyder County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 7 for flood events and 3 for hurricane events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 67 Pennsylvania counties, Snyder County ranks #52 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | Medium | 12.58 / yr | $175K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.39 / yr | $10K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.04 / yr | $11M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.44 / yr | $703K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $212K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.79 / yr | $225K |
| Lightning | Low | 33.82 / yr | $136K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.13 / yr | $620K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.37 / yr | $219K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.20 / yr | $13K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $17 |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.68 / yr | $30K |
| 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
Snyder County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Flood (7), Hurricane (3), Severe Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| 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 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| September 2004 | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances |
| March 2003 | Severe Storm | Snow |
| September 1999 | Flood | Tropical Depression Dennis Pa |
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 Snyder County?
Snyder County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 54.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 54th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Snyder County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (Medium, $175K EAL), Landslide (Low, $10K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Snyder County compare to other Pennsylvania counties?
Snyder County ranks #52 of 67 Pennsylvania counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Snyder County had?
FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Snyder County since 1972, most often 7 for flood events and 3 for hurricane 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. Snyder County's $15M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.