Bath County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 14th
Bath County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 13.7, 14th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Bath County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 13.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 14th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Bath County's expected losses come from lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $491K in expected annual loss and about 50.52 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Low risk — $43K in expected annual loss and about 14.68 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $627 in expected annual loss and about 0.49 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 13K.
Beyond physical exposure, Bath County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Bath County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1978, including 13 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Bath County ranks #110 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Medium | 50.52 / yr | $491K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 14.68 / yr | $43K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.49 / yr | $627 |
| Strong Wind | Low | 5.00 / yr | $341K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $90K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.79 / yr | $136K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.10 / yr | $517K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.39 / yr | $3M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $9K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $10K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.10 / yr | $85K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.77 / yr | $6K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.46 / yr | $16K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.11 / yr | $179K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Bath County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1978, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (13), Flood (4), Severe Ice Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| February 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides |
| November 2024 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Hurricane Helene |
| March 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| May 2015 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| May 2015 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| March 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 29 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bath County?
Bath County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 13.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 14th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Bath County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Medium, $491K EAL), Winter Weather (Low, $43K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $627 EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Bath County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Bath County ranks #110 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Bath County had?
FEMA records 29 federal disaster declarations for Bath County since 1978, most often 13 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in January 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Bath County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.