Orange County

Vermont — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

26.4

National percentile: 26th

Orange County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 26.4, 26th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $11M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $11M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 29K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Low $30K/yr
Hurricane
Low $472K/yr
Lightning
Medium $506K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Low 1.48 / yr $30K
Hurricane Low 0.05 / yr $472K
Lightning Medium 20.36 / yr $506K
Winter Weather Low 20.60 / yr $93K
Riverine Flood Low 1.04 / yr $9M
Ice Storm Low 0.43 / yr $67K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $169K
Avalanche Very Low 0.01 / yr $225
Heat Wave Very Low 1.11 / yr $250K
Cold Wave Low 3.95 / yr $555K
Strong Wind Low 0.93 / yr $301K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $8K
Tornado Very Low 0.06 / yr $143K
Hail Very Low 1.52 / yr $37K
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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Orange County?

Orange County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 26.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 26th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Orange County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $30K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $472K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $506K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Orange County compare to other Vermont counties?

Orange County ranks #11 of 14 Vermont counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

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. Orange County's $11M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.