Defiance County

Ohio — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

41.9

National percentile: 42th

Defiance County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 41.9, 42th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $16M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $16M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very High Capacity to recover
Population 38K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hail
Low $537K/yr
Tornado
Low $2M/yr
Riverine Flood
Low $11M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hail Low 3.35 / yr $537K
Tornado Low 0.22 / yr $2M
Riverine Flood Low 0.50 / yr $11M
Ice Storm Low 1.44 / yr $125K
Strong Wind Medium 4.36 / yr $730K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $378K
Landslide Very Low 0.07 / yr $837
Cold Wave Low 3.32 / yr $544K
Lightning Low 39.20 / yr $136K
Winter Weather Low 10.00 / yr $37K
Drought Very Low 0.41 / yr $21K
Heat Wave Very Low 4.32 / yr $138K
Hurricane Very Low 0.01 / yr $13K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $3K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood 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 Defiance County?

Defiance County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 41.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 42th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Defiance County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Low, $537K EAL), Tornado (Low, $2M EAL), Riverine Flood (Low, $11M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Defiance County compare to other Ohio counties?

Defiance County ranks #63 of 88 Ohio 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. Defiance County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.