riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Union County Disaster Risk

Union County, Pennsylvania

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

55th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#50

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

72th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 72% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 10% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 34% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 44% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Union County

Risk Verdict

Union County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 55th 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 Union County, scoring in the 74th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 72th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (44th), tornado (34th), wildfire (10th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Union 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

Union County is notably safer than the average county in Pennsylvania. Its composite risk score is 12.2 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 Union County, PA?
Union County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 55th 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 Union County?
Union County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (74th percentile), flooding (72th percentile), earthquake (44th percentile), tornado (34th percentile), wildfire (10th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane 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 Union County risk compare to the Pennsylvania average?
Union County's composite risk percentile is 55th, compared to the Pennsylvania state average of 67th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Union County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Pennsylvania.
Is Union County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Union County's hurricane risk is at the 74th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Union County is at the 72th 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 Union County a safe place to live?
Union County's composite risk score of 55th 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 74th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Greene County

Pennsylvania

-0.1

Relatively Low

55th percentile

Venango County

Pennsylvania

+0.3

Relatively Low

56th percentile

Snyder County

Pennsylvania

-1.0

Relatively Low

54th 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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