Jefferson County

Ohio — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

66.7

National percentile: 67th

Jefferson County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 66.7, 67th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $22M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $22M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience High Capacity to recover
Population 65K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Low $19K/yr
Riverine Flood
Medium $18M/yr
Hail
Medium $597K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Low 0.90 / yr $19K
Riverine Flood Medium 1.39 / yr $18M
Hail Medium 3.84 / yr $597K
Lightning Medium 42.04 / yr $505K
Strong Wind Medium 2.30 / yr $759K
Ice Storm Medium 0.45 / yr $146K
Hurricane Low 0.02 / yr $178K
Heat Wave Low 1.84 / yr $347K
Tornado Low 0.16 / yr $1M
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $198K
Winter Weather Low 10.05 / yr $41K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $23K
Drought Low 3.43 / yr $27K
Cold Wave Very Low 2.84 / yr $45K
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 Jefferson County?

Jefferson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 66.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 67th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Jefferson County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $19K EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $18M EAL), Hail (Medium, $597K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Jefferson County compare to other Ohio counties?

Jefferson County ranks #29 of 88 Ohio counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a 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. Jefferson County's $22M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.