riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Highland County Disaster Risk

Highland County, Ohio

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

43th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#61

of 88 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

57th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 57% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 60% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 56% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 62% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Highland County

Risk Verdict

Highland County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 43th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Highland County, scoring in the 62th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 60th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (57th), tornado (56th), hurricane (46th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Highland County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as wildfire also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Highland County is notably safer than the average county in Ohio. Its composite risk score is 11.8 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Highland County, OH?
Highland County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 43th 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 Highland County?
Highland County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (62th percentile), wildfire (60th percentile), flooding (57th percentile), tornado (56th percentile), hurricane (46th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 62th 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 Highland County risk compare to the Ohio average?
Highland County's composite risk percentile is 43th, compared to the Ohio state average of 55th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Highland County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Ohio.
Is Highland County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Highland County's earthquake risk is at the 62th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Highland County is at the 57th percentile.
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 Highland County a safe place to live?
Highland County's composite risk score of 43th percentile is below the Ohio state average of 55th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is earthquake at the 62th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Pike County

Ohio

-0.1

Relatively Low

43th percentile

Preble County

Ohio

+0.1

Relatively Low

43th percentile

Adams County

Ohio

+0.6

Relatively Low

44th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

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.

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