riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Susquehanna County Disaster Risk

Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

54th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#54

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

71th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 71% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 21% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 47% 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 75% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

Susquehanna faces moderate national risk

Susquehanna County scores 53.59 nationally, placing it near the middle range of U.S. disaster risk and notably below the nation's highest-risk communities. While not extreme, this score reflects meaningful exposure to multiple natural hazards that residents should understand and prepare for.

Mid-range risk within Pennsylvania

Susquehanna County's composite score of 53.59 falls below Pennsylvania's average of 67.45, ranking it as relatively low-risk statewide. The county outperforms about half of Pennsylvania's other counties in disaster resilience, though some neighbors carry significantly lower exposure.

Riskier than nearby Sullivan County

Susquehanna County (53.59) faces greater hazard exposure than neighboring Sullivan County (10.72) but performs comparably to Tioga County (59.76) and Wayne County (56.33). The primary difference is Susquehanna's higher flood risk (70.99) relative to the broader region.

Flood and hurricane risks dominate

Susquehanna County's critical hazards are hurricane risk (75.34) and flood risk (70.99), both exceeding the state average substantially. Tornado risk (46.98) and earthquake risk (46.91) add secondary concerns that warrant household preparedness planning.

Prioritize flood and windstorm coverage

Susquehanna County residents should secure comprehensive homeowners insurance with explicit flood coverage and windstorm protection, given scores of 70.99 and 75.34 respectively. These elevated risks make specialized insurance not optional but essential for financial safety.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Susquehanna County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    75th percentile
  2. #2
    FloodPrepare
    71th percentile
  3. #3
    TornadoPrepare
    47th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Susquehanna County

Risk Verdict

Natural hazard pressure in Susquehanna County is below the national midpoint, with a composite score at the 54th percentile. Proactive emergency planning and awareness of the specific hazards driving Susquehanna County's score can meaningfully reduce household risk.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is Susquehanna County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 75th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 71th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include tornado (47th percentile), earthquake (47th percentile), wildfire (21th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Hurricane exposure at the 75th percentile nationally makes Susquehanna County a county where pre-season preparedness — not storm-day preparation — determines outcomes. Susquehanna County evacuation decisions under a watch or warning benefit from prior planning, not routes improvised under time pressure. Susquehanna County's flood exposure at the 71th percentile nationally adds a hazard layer that can persist or intensify after hurricane-force winds have passed, particularly in low-lying inland areas. Susquehanna County residents benefit from registering with the county's special-needs evacuation registry if household members have mobility limitations, require electricity-dependent medical equipment, or cannot self-evacuate — registration in advance of storm season is required.

Regional Context

Susquehanna County's composite risk score sits 13.9 points below the Pennsylvania county average, reflecting a more favorable hazard environment than the state typical.

Is your household prepared for Susquehanna County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Susquehanna County, PA?
Susquehanna County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 54th 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 Susquehanna County?
Susquehanna County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (75th percentile), flooding (71th percentile), tornado (47th percentile), earthquake (47th percentile), wildfire (21th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 75th 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 Susquehanna County risk compare to the Pennsylvania average?
Susquehanna County's composite risk percentile is 54th, compared to the Pennsylvania state average of 67th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Susquehanna County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Pennsylvania.
Is Susquehanna County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Susquehanna County's hurricane risk is at the 75th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Susquehanna County is at the 71th 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 Susquehanna County a safe place to live?
Susquehanna County's composite risk score of 54th 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 75th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

McKean County

Pennsylvania

+0.2

Relatively Low

54th percentile

Perry County

Pennsylvania

-0.5

Relatively Low

53th percentile

Snyder County

Pennsylvania

+0.7

Relatively Low

54th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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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