Orleans County
New York — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 18th
Orleans County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 17.9, 18th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Medium | 2.24 / yr | $158K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $89K |
| Hail | Low | 0.73 / yr | $257K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.54 / yr | $5M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.17 / yr | $388K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $127K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 3.11 / yr | $412K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 3.05 / yr | $125K |
| Lightning | Low | 26.15 / yr | $103K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 20.11 / yr | $21K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $302K |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $2K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $29 |
| Avalanche | 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 Orleans County?
Orleans County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 17.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 18th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Orleans County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Medium, $158K EAL), Hurricane (Very Low, $89K EAL), Hail (Low, $257K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Orleans County compare to other New York counties?
Orleans County ranks #60 of 62 New York 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. Orleans County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.