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Natural hazard risk in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively High (score 94.7 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$202.6 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1965
25[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$149.8 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
23[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Bucks County an overall Risk Index rating of Relatively High, with a score of 94.7 out of 100[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores in the county are winter weather, ice storm and inland flooding[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index estimates $202.6 million a year in Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Bucks County[1]. This is FEMA's estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid, and it does not predict next year's losses[7]. FEMA's sorted Expected Annual Loss values put inland flooding first at $141.2 million a year, then earthquake at $13.3 million a year and tornado at $10.3 million a year[8]. FEMA rates social vulnerability Very Low for the county, with a score of 18.5[9]. FEMA rates community resilience Relatively High, with a score of 77.7[10]. All ratings compare Bucks County with other US counties[7].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Winter WeatherVery High$2.4 million[11]
Ice StormVery High$4.5 million[12]
Inland FloodingRelatively High$141.2 million[13]
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$7.5 million[14]
Strong WindRelatively High$3.5 million[15]
EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$13.3 million[16]
TornadoRelatively High$10.3 million[17]
LightningRelatively High$1.6 million[18]
Cold WaveRelatively High$9.3 million[19]
HurricaneRelatively Moderate$7.0 million[20]
DroughtRelatively Moderate$926,000[21]
Coastal FloodingRelatively Moderate$922,000[22]
LandslideVery Low$2,596[23]
WildfireVery Low$78,000[24]
HailRelatively Low$215,000[25]
AvalancheVery Low$42[26]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: tsunami, volcanic activity[27].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityVery Low18.5[9]
Community resilienceRelatively High77.7[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High compared with other US counties, with a score of 97.1 out of 100[13]. OpenFEMA lists 2,658 residential flood insurance contracts in force, a penetration rate of 1.2%[28]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 49.2% of homes are insured[28]. OpenFEMA NFIP claims data records 5,260 claims for losses in Bucks County from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $149.8 million in total[3]. For the flood zone of an address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[29].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[13] Relatively High, $141.2 million expected loss a year
Coastal Flooding, FEMA risk rating[22] Relatively Moderate, $922,000 expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[28] 2,658 of 212,765 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[28] 3,468, of which 1,706 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 5,260 filed, $149.8 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[29]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 25 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Bucks County since 1965[2]. By incident type, there were 8 for hurricane and 7 for flood[2]. The most recent is DR-4618-PA, Remnants Of Hurricane Ida, declared 2021-09-10[30]. NOAA's tornado database records 23 tornadoes that touched Bucks County from 1950 to 2024[4]. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2023-04-01[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Bucks County, since 1965
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 8
Flood[2] 7
Severe Storm[2] 5
Snowstorm[2] 3
Drought[2] 1
Severe Ice Storm[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4618-PA[30] Remnants Of Hurricane Ida 2021-09-10
DR-4267-PA[30] Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm 2016-03-23
EM-3367-PA[30] Severe Winter Storm 2014-02-06
DR-4099-PA[30] Hurricane Sandy 2013-01-10
EM-3356-PA[30] Hurricane Sandy 2012-10-29

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

Questions people ask

Is Bucks County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High compared with other US counties, with a score of 97.1 out of 100[13]. FEMA's Expected Annual Loss for inland flooding is $141.2 million a year[8].
Does Bucks County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 23 tornadoes that touched Bucks County from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively High compared with other US counties[17].
Is Bucks County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties, with an Expected Annual Loss of $13.3 million a year[16].
How many disasters have been declared in Bucks County?
OpenFEMA lists 25 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Bucks County since 1965[2].
How do I check the flood zone of an address in Bucks County?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[29]. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of a single address[29].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Bucks County is $202.6 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively High, score 95.7). Of this, buildings account for $161.2 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $40.0... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 25 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Bucks County since 1965 (19 major disaster, 6 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 8, flood 7, severe storm 5, snowstorm 3, drought 1, severe ice storm 1. Biological (such as... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 5,260 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Bucks County, 4,450 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $149.8 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid).... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 23 recorded tornadoes touched Bucks County. The strongest were rated EF3 (most recent of them on 2021-07-29). 1 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2023-04-01. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Bucks County is Relatively High, with a Risk Index score of 94.7 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Bucks County are winter weather (99.1, Very High), ice storm (99.0, Very High), inland flooding (97.1, Relatively High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores;... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Bucks County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($141.2 million a year), earthquake ($13.3 million a year), tornado ($10.3 million a year), out of $202.6 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Bucks County is Very Low (score 18.5). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Bucks County is Relatively High (score 77.7). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.4 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 12.32 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.5 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 1.43 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 97.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $141.2 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 4.43 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 26... FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 95.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $7.5 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 9.64 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 94.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.5 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 7.03 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 93.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $13.3 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0016 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 92.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $10.3 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.29 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 91.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.6 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 33.98 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 90.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $9.3 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.89 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 88.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $7.0 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.08 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172... FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 77.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $926,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 3.94 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), coastal flooding in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 65.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $922,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 6.164 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 56.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2,596 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 55.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $78,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0001 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 40.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $215,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 2.63 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  26. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), avalanche in Bucks County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 19.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $42 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.01 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 28 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  27. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Bucks County: tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  28. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 2,658 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Bucks County, out of 212,765 residential structures, a penetration rate of 1.2%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 3,468 residential structures and 1,706 contracts, a... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  29. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  30. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.