Lehigh County
Pennsylvania — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 94th
Lehigh County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 93.9, 94th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $128M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | Very High | 1.00 / yr | $30M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 13.53 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 6.05 / yr | $7M |
| Lightning | High | 35.22 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | High | 6.29 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.18 / yr | $68M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.06 / yr | $7M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.18 / yr | $5M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.28 / yr | $13K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.52 / yr | $310K |
| Drought | Medium | 1.74 / yr | $334K |
| Hail | Low | 2.70 / yr | $149K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $13K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $17 |
| 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 Lehigh County?
Lehigh County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 93.9 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 94th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lehigh County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Very High, $30M EAL), Winter Weather (Very High, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $7M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lehigh County compare to other Pennsylvania counties?
Lehigh County ranks #6 of 67 Pennsylvania counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium 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. Lehigh County's $128M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.