Oswego County Disaster Risk

Oswego County, New York

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

68th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#36

of 62 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

82th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 36% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 43% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 65% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 61% of US counties

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Oswego County, NY?
Oswego County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 68th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Oswego County?
Oswego County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: flooding (82th percentile), earthquake (65th percentile), hurricane (61th percentile), tornado (43th percentile), wildfire (36th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is flooding at the 82th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Oswego County risk compare to the New York average?
Oswego County's composite risk percentile is 68th, compared to the New York state average of 69th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Oswego County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in New York.
Is Oswego County at risk for flooding?
Yes, Oswego County's flooding risk is at the 82th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Oswego County a safe place to live?
Oswego County's composite risk score of 68th percentile is below the New York state average of 69th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is flooding at the 82th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.