riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Williams County Disaster Risk

Williams County, Ohio

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

44th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#58

of 88 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

52th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 52% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 12% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 63% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 32% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Williams County

Risk Verdict

Williams County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 44th 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

Tornado risk is the dominant hazard for Williams County, scoring in the 74th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 63th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (52th), hurricane (32th), wildfire (12th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Williams County residents should identify a safe room or interior space on the lowest floor, have a NOAA weather radio, and practice tornado drills with your household. Secondary risks such as earthquake 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

Williams County is notably safer than the average county in Ohio. Its composite risk score is 10.6 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 Williams County, OH?
Williams County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 44th 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 Williams County?
Williams County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (74th percentile), earthquake (63th percentile), flooding (52th percentile), hurricane (32th percentile), wildfire (12th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado 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 Williams County risk compare to the Ohio average?
Williams County's composite risk percentile is 44th, compared to the Ohio state average of 55th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Williams County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Ohio.
Is Williams County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Williams County's tornado risk is at the 74th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Williams County is at the 52th 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 Williams County a safe place to live?
Williams County's composite risk score of 44th 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 tornado at the 74th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Adams County

Ohio

-0.6

Relatively Low

44th percentile

Preble County

Ohio

-1.1

Relatively Low

43th percentile

Highland County

Ohio

-1.2

Relatively Low

43th 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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