Breathitt County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 65th
Breathitt County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 64.7, 65th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $15M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Breathitt County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 64.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 65th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Breathitt County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $63K in expected annual loss and about 1.56 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $13M in expected annual loss and about 2.75 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $105K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $15M in expected annual loss for a population of 14K.
Beyond physical exposure, Breathitt County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The federal record bears this out: Breathitt County has received 49 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 21 for severe storm events and 14 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Breathitt County ranks #29 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 1.56 / yr | $63K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.75 / yr | $13M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.01 / yr | $105K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 15.37 / yr | $51K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $103K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.89 / yr | $403K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $17K |
| Hail | Low | 3.30 / yr | $103K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.78 / yr | $222K |
| Lightning | Low | 50.95 / yr | $82K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.63 / yr | $109K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.11 / yr | $263K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $39 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.32 / yr | $10K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 5.07 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Breathitt County has received 49 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (21), Flood (14), Severe Ice Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| February 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| February 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides |
| November 2024 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Hurricane Helene |
| May 2023 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| July 2022 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| February 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 49 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Breathitt County?
Breathitt County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 64.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 65th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Breathitt County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $63K EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $13M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $105K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Breathitt County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Breathitt County ranks #29 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Breathitt County had?
FEMA records 49 federal disaster declarations for Breathitt County since 1967, most often 21 for severe storm events and 14 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. Breathitt County's $15M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.