riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Carbon County Disaster Risk

Carbon County, Pennsylvania

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

59th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#46

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

68th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 68% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 38% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 47% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 73% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Carbon County

Risk Verdict

Carbon County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 59th 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

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Carbon County, scoring in the 73th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 68th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (47th), wildfire (41th), tornado (38th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Carbon County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as flood 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

Carbon County is notably safer than the average county in Pennsylvania. Its composite risk score is 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 Carbon County, PA?
Carbon County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 59th 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 Carbon County?
Carbon County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (73th percentile), flooding (68th percentile), earthquake (47th percentile), wildfire (41th percentile), tornado (38th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 73th 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 Carbon County risk compare to the Pennsylvania average?
Carbon County's composite risk percentile is 59th, compared to the Pennsylvania state average of 67th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Carbon County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Pennsylvania.
Is Carbon County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Carbon County's hurricane risk is at the 73th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Carbon County is at the 68th 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 Carbon County a safe place to live?
Carbon County's composite risk score of 59th percentile is below the Pennsylvania state average of 67th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 73th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Tioga County

Pennsylvania

+0.3

Relatively Low

60th percentile

Jefferson County

Pennsylvania

-1.5

Relatively Low

58th percentile

Columbia County

Pennsylvania

+2.6

Relatively Low

62th 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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