FEMA Records
20
Above median
Pennsylvania · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Westmoreland County, PA
20 FEMA disaster declarations (1971-2020), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate. Most common hazard: Flood.
- 20
- FEMA declarations
- 13
- Major disasters
- 88
- NRI risk · Relatively Moderate
- Flood
- Top hazard
The verdict
Two federal records point in the busier direction for Westmoreland County. Its 20 FEMA declarations are 8% above the Pennsylvania county mean and exceed the count for 46% of the 3,266 counties in this registry. Separately, FEMA's National Risk Index places it in the riskiest 12%, based on modeled expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
- Riskiest 12%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Moderate
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 20
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 1,581
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed
FEMA's National Risk Index and its declaration registry are separate measures. This county's registry includes Major Disaster (DR) and Emergency (EM) records; an EM authorizes a narrower set of federal assistance than a DR.
How does Westmoreland County compare?
Westmoreland County vs. all counties in this dataset
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time
20 46th percentile higher than 46% of 3,266 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-03
Westmoreland County's FEMA Risk Index score
FEMA National Risk Index composite score vs. the Pennsylvania county average
Which hazard drives modeled loss here?
FEMA's modeled annual dollar loss for Westmoreland County is led by Riverine Flooding (about $65.9M Expected Annual Loss, Historical Loss Ratio Relatively Moderate), while Lightning carries the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively High). EAL and risk score use different inputs; they need not agree.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025 release) - Expected Annual Loss vs composite risk rating by hazard.
What does Westmoreland County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
FEMA's NFIP table contains a substantial paid-claim history for this county: 1,581 claims and $21.3M in payments. PlainHazard labels 500 or more claims a heavy registry record; that is a reporting bucket, not an official FEMA risk grade. The average paid claim was $13.5K. NFIP totals exclude uninsured flood losses and do not measure how many properties currently carry a policy.
The declaration register points in the busier direction. Westmoreland County's 20 federal records stand 8% above the Pennsylvania county mean of 18.6. That comparison describes how often federal action was recorded, including any Major Disaster, Emergency, and Fire Management entries shown on this page; it does not convert the count into future probability.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 87.8/100 (Relatively Moderate). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively Moderate (roughly $76.3M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Relatively Low and community resilience Very High, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Lightning stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Relatively High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at an average of 42 times per year here, based on 470,530 historical events on record.
Declaration frequency
The FEMA register is busy by both local and national comparisons. It contains 20 entries for Westmoreland County, including 13 Major Disaster records, 8% above the Pennsylvania county mean. Across the 49-year span, that works out to 0.4 declarations a year. Flood leads the file with 6 entries. Declaration type records the federal action taken, not every assistance program approved.
58 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Westmoreland County, PA · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite from FEMA declaration history only on the county surface (this DB has no county-level NOAA damage row) . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) Moderate
14/30
20 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.0x national county average)
County Disaster Density High
13/25
20 declarations (1.1x state county average of 19)
Major Disaster Share High
16/25
13 of 20 declarations are major disasters (65%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
15/20
6 different disaster types declared in Westmoreland County
Historical Declaration Activity
Activity Band
High
vs. Pennsylvania Avg
+8%
State avg: 18.6
vs. National Avg
-3%
National avg: 20.7
Avg Per Year
0.4
Over 49 years
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Westmoreland County
How to read this radar
Each axis: NRI risk rating (Very Low-Very High) on a 0-100 scale. Rounder = broad exposure; spiky = one or two hazards dominate.
Major Disaster share
65%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
88
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Westmoreland County?
FEMA's National Risk Index models a historical event count and an annualized frequency for each hazard type. Most hazards are expressed as modeled occurrences per year; FEMA expresses drought and heat-wave frequency as event-days per year. These modeled frequencies are not forecasts.
| Hazard | NRI Risk Rating | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively High | an average of 42 times per year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | an average of 4.8 times per year |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | an average of 1.7 times per year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | an average of 2.4 times per year |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | an average of 2.7 times per year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | roughly once every 1,969 years |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | an average of 18 times per year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | roughly once every 31 years |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 3 years |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 1.5 modeled event-days per year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | roughly once every 3 years |
| Wildfire | Very Low | roughly once every 21,098 years |
| Avalanche | Very Low | roughly once every 100 years |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.1 modeled event-days per year |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | an average of 3.4 times per year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Flood 6
Snowstorm 5
Hurricane 3
Severe Storm 3
Biological 2
Tornado 1
What Flood declarations mean here
Flood is the most frequent declaration type on Westmoreland County's record, 30% of its declarations. Federal flood declarations cover two mechanisms that behave very differently: riverine flooding, which builds over days as a watershed drains and is usually forecast well in advance, and flash flooding, which can arrive in under an hour from rainfall that fell somewhere upstream.
Flood is also the one hazard class where a second federal dataset exists for the same events. The National Flood Insurance Program records what was actually paid on insured losses, so it measures a narrower thing than the declaration count: uninsured damage, and flooding outside mapped special flood hazard areas, never enters it. Reading the two together is more informative than either alone.
Declaration counts describe past federal action. They are a record of what was declared, not a forecast of future hazard probability.
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Major Disaster - 13 65.0%
of all 20 declarations
Emergency - 7 35.0%
of all 20 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2016 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 1 | |
| 1996 | 2 | |
| 1994 | 1 | |
| 1993 | 1 | |
| 1986 | 1 | |
| 1984 | 1 | |
| 1980 | 1 | |
| 1977 | 2 | |
| 1972 | 1 | |
Show 1 earlier declaration years
| 1971 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 20 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 20 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4506 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-03-30 |
| 3441 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 4267 | SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM | DR | Snowstorm | 2016-03-23 |
| 3356 | HURRICANE SANDY | EM | Hurricane | 2012-10-29 |
| 1898 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND SNOWSTORMS | DR | Snowstorm | 2010-04-16 |
| 3235 | HURRICANE KATRINA | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-10 |
| 1557 | TROPICAL DEPRESSION IVAN | DR | Hurricane | 2004-09-19 |
| 1555 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL DEPRESSION FRANCES | DR | Severe Storm | 2004-09-19 |
| 3180 | SNOW | EM | Severe Storm | 2003-03-14 |
| 1093 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1996-01-21 |
| 1085 | BLIZZARD OF 96 | DR | Snowstorm | 1996-01-13 |
| 1015 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS | DR | Severe Storm | 1994-03-10 |
| 3105 | SEVERE SNOWFALL & WINTER STORM | EM | Snowstorm | 1993-03-16 |
| 754 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1985-11-09 |
| 721 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1984-08-27 |
| 3081 | SEVERE STORMS & TORNADOES | EM | Tornado | 1980-06-13 |
| 537 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1977-07-21 |
| 3026 | SNOWSTORMS | EM | Snowstorm | 1977-01-29 |
| 340 | TROPICAL STORM AGNES | DR | Flood | 1972-06-23 |
| 312 | FLOODS | DR | Flood | 1971-09-18 |
Storm Events in Pennsylvania
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Westmoreland County.
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 9,976 | 18 | 114 | $115.5M |
| Flash Flood | 2,288 | 23 | 8 | $463.2M |
| Winter Weather | 1,670 | 23 | 268 | $566.0K |
| Hail | 1,400 | 0 | 0 | $2.6M |
| Winter Storm | 881 | 14 | 17 | $2.9M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
1,581
Total Paid
$21.3M
Avg Per Claim
$13.5K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Score: 87.8/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Moderate
$76.3M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively Low
Community Resilience
Very High
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Lightning Relatively High
Riverine Flooding Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively High
Hail Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Tornado Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Avalanche Very Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Lightning
Lightning is modeled as a high-frequency, low-per-event hazard: strike counts are large, but each strike affects a very small area. Its aggregate cost accumulates through structure fires, electrical and electronic damage, and it is one of the few hazards whose risk is essentially continuous through the season rather than episodic.
Worth noting for Westmoreland County: the model and the federal record do NOT point at the same hazard. Lightning carries the highest modeled rating (Relatively High), while the county's declaration history is led by Flood. That is not a contradiction, the two measure genuinely different things. Declarations record federal ACTION, which requires damage costly enough to exceed state and local capacity; the Risk Index models EXPECTED annual loss across all 18 hazards whether or not any declaration ever followed. A hazard can be the county's largest modeled exposure and never once have driven a declaration.
National Risk Index ratings are modeled estimates of expected annual loss, not predictions of what will happen in any given year.
Data-matched county comparisons
Westmoreland County's closest FEMA peer: Lee County, VA
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Westmoreland County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Westmoreland County shows 20 FEMA declarations, led by Flood.
Similar Major-disaster share
Westmoreland County: 13 of 20 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Westmoreland County: NRI composite 87.8 (Relatively Moderate).
How these peers are chosen
Cohort: Published U.S. county equivalents outside the source state or territory. Each metric keeps six ETL candidates; three unique destinations are shown after de-duplicating across axes. Declaration-volume ranking combines count and Major-disaster share and prefers a different leading incident type; Major-share ranks the Major fraction adjusted for volume; NRI ranks the modeled composite score only.
Retained FEMA snapshot feed for Westmoreland County - capture-dated entries only.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Westmoreland County's NFIP claims file (1,581 claims) and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records - this guide separates them from modeled NRI risk.
More PlainHazard guides
- Most disaster-prone counties - U.S. counties ranked by FEMA declaration totals.
- Understanding disaster data - declarations vs storm events vs NRI scores.
- Preparing for natural disasters - household checklist (not county-specific advice).
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Westmoreland County?
The most common disaster type in Westmoreland County is Flood, with 6 declarations. Other disaster types include Snowstorm (5), Hurricane (3), Severe Storm (3).
How does Westmoreland County's FEMA declaration record compare with the Pennsylvania average?
FEMA lists 20 declaration records for Westmoreland County. That is 8% above the Pennsylvania county mean of 18.6. Its count is also 3% below the national county mean of 20.7. A larger declaration history records more federal actions; it is not a forecast of the county's next hazard.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Westmoreland County received?
Westmoreland County has received 13 major disaster declarations, representing 65% of all 20 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Westmoreland County filed?
Westmoreland County has 1,581 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $21.3M in payments, with an average of $13.5K per claim.
Does FEMA's top risk-rated hazard match the highest Expected Annual Loss in Westmoreland County?
No. In Westmoreland County, Lightning has the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively High), while Riverine Flooding leads Expected Annual Loss at about $65.9M. FEMA's risk score and dollar-loss model use different inputs, so the leaders often differ.
What was the worst year for disasters in Westmoreland County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Westmoreland County was 1977, with 2 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1971 to 2020.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Westmoreland County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania has an overall risk score of 87.8 out of 100 (Relatively Moderate). Social vulnerability here rates Relatively Low, while community resilience comes in at Very High. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Moderate, representing $76.3M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Westmoreland County?
FEMA's NRI data points to Westmoreland County is Lightning (risk rating: Relatively High). Other significant hazards include Riverine Flooding (Relatively High) and Landslide (Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts lightning here at an average of 42 times per year, drawn from 470,530 historical events on record. These scores are based on FEMA's analysis of historical event frequency, exposed assets, and community vulnerability.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Flood insurance data comes from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA claims dataset.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
What this means for Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, PA has 20 federal declaration records, 8% more than the Pennsylvania county mean of 19; its history sits in PlainHazard's high activity band.
- Within this above-state-average declaration file, major disaster leads with 13 of 20 records; the category describes past federal action, not the next likely hazard. Pennsylvania overview
- The state benchmark and national rank point the same way: this count tops the Pennsylvania mean and the totals for 46% of 3,266 U.S. counties. Most-disaster rankings
- The large NFIP claims file and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records; the guide explains where they overlap and where they do not. Disaster-data guide
An above-average declaration count records past federal responses; it does not predict the next event. Current warnings come from the National Weather Service and local emergency officials.
PlainHazard derives this profile from FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries and National Risk Index data. The declaration comparison covers 3,266 U.S. counties and county equivalents in this database, refreshed as of 2026-08-03. Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 - all federally-declared disasters for this county. fema.gov/openfema/disaster-declarations
- FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) - per-county per-hazard risk ratings and expected annual loss. hazards.fema.gov/nri
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database - state-level storm/severe-weather event records, 2015-2025. ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainHazard Editorial
Verify with FEMA → · Verify with FEMA NRI → · Verify with NOAA →
Every figure on PlainHazard is rendered directly from FEMA federal disaster data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or national statistics report, the data & editorial changelog, or report a data error.