Bullitt County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 72th
Bullitt County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 71.8, 72th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $46M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Bullitt County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 71.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 72nd 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.
Risk here concentrates in strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 6.79 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $10M in expected annual loss and about 0.21 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 1.16 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $46M in expected annual loss for a population of 82K.
Beyond physical exposure, Bullitt County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: Bullitt County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1970, including 10 for severe storm events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Bullitt County ranks #21 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | High | 6.79 / yr | $4M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.21 / yr | $10M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.16 / yr | $6M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.14 / yr | $23M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 8.89 / yr | $201K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 53.06 / yr | $751K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.97 / yr | $280K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.42 / yr | $610K |
| Hail | Low | 3.39 / yr | $275K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.33 / yr | $477 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $18K |
| Drought | Very Low | 1.50 / yr | $3K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $5K |
| 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
Bullitt County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1970, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Flood (7), Tornado (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| April 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| December 2021 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| December 2021 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bullitt County?
Bullitt County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 71.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 72th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Bullitt County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (High, $4M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $10M EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $6M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Bullitt County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Bullitt County ranks #21 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Bullitt County had?
FEMA records 27 federal disaster declarations for Bullitt County since 1970, most often 10 for severe storm events and 7 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. Bullitt County's $46M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.