riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Somerset County Disaster Risk

Somerset County, Pennsylvania

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

64th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#42

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

80th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 80% 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 35% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 54% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 73% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Somerset County

Risk Verdict

Somerset 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 Somerset County, scoring in the 80th percentile nationally. It is followed by hurricane risk at the 73th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (54th), wildfire (41th), tornado (35th).

Preparedness Context

With flood risk as the top concern, Somerset 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

Somerset County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Pennsylvania. Its composite risk score is within 3.2 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 Somerset County, PA?
Somerset 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 Somerset County?
Somerset County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: flooding (80th percentile), hurricane (73th percentile), earthquake (54th percentile), wildfire (41th percentile), tornado (35th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is flooding at the 80th 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 Somerset County risk compare to the Pennsylvania average?
Somerset 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 Somerset County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Pennsylvania.
Is Somerset County at risk for flooding?
Yes, Somerset County's flooding risk is at the 80th 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 Somerset County a safe place to live?
Somerset 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 80th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Indiana County

Pennsylvania

-0.5

Relatively Low

64th percentile

Warren County

Pennsylvania

+1.3

Relatively Low

66th percentile

Pike County

Pennsylvania

+1.7

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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