riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Indiana County Disaster Risk

Indiana County, Pennsylvania

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

64th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#43

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

78th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 78% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 38% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 43% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 48% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 71% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Indiana County

Risk Verdict

Indiana County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 64th 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

Flood risk is the dominant hazard for Indiana County, scoring in the 78th percentile nationally. It is followed by hurricane risk at the 71th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (48th), tornado (43th), wildfire (38th).

Preparedness Context

With flood risk as the top concern, Indiana County residents should review flood insurance needs (standard home insurance does not cover flood damage), know your evacuation zone, and keep important documents waterproofed. Secondary risks such as hurricane 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

Indiana County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Pennsylvania. Its composite risk score is within 3.7 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Pennsylvania as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Indiana County, PA?
Indiana County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 64th 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 Indiana County?
Indiana County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: flooding (78th percentile), hurricane (71th percentile), earthquake (48th percentile), tornado (43th percentile), wildfire (38th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is flooding at the 78th 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 Indiana County risk compare to the Pennsylvania average?
Indiana County's composite risk percentile is 64th, compared to the Pennsylvania state average of 67th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Indiana County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Pennsylvania.
Is Indiana County at risk for flooding?
Yes, Indiana County's flooding risk is at the 78th 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 Indiana County a safe place to live?
Indiana County's composite risk score of 64th 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 flooding at the 78th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Somerset County

Pennsylvania

+0.5

Relatively Low

64th percentile

Columbia County

Pennsylvania

-1.7

Relatively Low

62th percentile

Warren County

Pennsylvania

+1.8

Relatively Low

66th 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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