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

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 Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Union County, Pennsylvania

Union County faces moderate national risk

Union County scores 55.25 nationally, placing it in the moderate range of U.S. disaster vulnerability. While not among the highest-risk American communities, this score indicates residents face meaningful natural hazard exposure requiring awareness and preparation.

Below Pennsylvania average for safety

Union County's composite score of 55.25 falls below Pennsylvania's state average of 67.45, ranking it as relatively low-risk statewide. The county outperforms most of its peers across the Commonwealth on disaster resilience metrics.

Middle of the risk spectrum regionally

Union County (55.25) sits between the very-low-risk Sullivan County (10.72) and higher-exposure Warren County (65.55) in the central Pennsylvania region. The county's flood risk (71.82) and earthquake risk (43.58) distinguish it from Sullivan but make it comparable to other county neighbors.

Flood and hurricane create main hazards

Union County's top threats are flood risk (71.82) and hurricane risk (74.34), both well above state averages and creating compound water-related exposure. Tornado risk (33.75) and earthquake risk (43.58) present additional but less severe concerns for households.

Flood coverage essential for Union County

Union County residents should secure flood insurance as a separate policy, given flood risk of 71.82 and hurricane risk of 74.34. Comprehensive homeowners insurance combined with dedicated flood coverage provides the most complete financial protection for this county's specific hazard profile.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Union County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    74th percentile
  2. #2
    FloodPrepare
    72th percentile
  3. #3
    EarthquakePrepare
    44th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Union County

Risk Verdict

Union County has a below-average natural disaster risk profile, scoring at the 55th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Households in Union County benefit from knowing which individual hazard types — flood, wildfire, tornado, or hurricane — are the primary contributors.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is Union County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 74th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 72th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (44th percentile), tornado (34th percentile), wildfire (10th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Hurricane risk is Union County's top-ranked natural hazard at the 74th percentile nationally. The most time-sensitive preparedness step is knowing the county's evacuation zone for your address — zone maps are published by the county emergency management office. Flood at the 72th percentile nationally is Union County's secondary hazard, often intensified by the same weather systems that produce hurricane conditions. Union County's county emergency management office publishes official evacuation zone maps with zone-specific shelter locations; downloading this map and identifying your zone assignment is the single highest-value pre-season step.

Regional Context

The Pennsylvania county average exceeds Union County's score by 12.2 composite points — placing this county in the lower-risk tier relative to its in-state peers.

Is your household prepared for Union 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 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 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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