riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Mercer County Disaster Risk

Mercer County, Ohio

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

32th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#73

of 88 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

42th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 42% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 6% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 67% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 39% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Mercer County

Risk Verdict

Mercer County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 32th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Mercer County, scoring in the 74th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 67th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (42th), hurricane (39th), wildfire (6th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Mercer County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as tornado 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

Mercer County is notably safer than the average county in Ohio. Its composite risk score is 23.4 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 Mercer County, OH?
Mercer County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 32th 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 Mercer County?
Mercer County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (74th percentile), tornado (67th percentile), flooding (42th percentile), hurricane (39th percentile), wildfire (6th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 74th 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 Mercer County risk compare to the Ohio average?
Mercer County's composite risk percentile is 32th, compared to the Ohio state average of 55th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Mercer County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Ohio.
Is Mercer County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Mercer County's earthquake risk is at the 74th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Mercer County is at the 42th 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 Mercer County a safe place to live?
Mercer County's composite risk score of 32th 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 74th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Union County

Ohio

+1.1

Very Low

33th percentile

Putnam County

Ohio

+1.2

Very Low

33th percentile

Fulton County

Ohio

+1.9

Very Low

34th 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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