Clark County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 38th
Clark County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 38.3, 38th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Clark County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 38.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 38th 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.
Risk here concentrates in strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 5.46 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.11 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $127K in expected annual loss and about 11.68 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $14M in expected annual loss for a population of 37K.
Beyond physical exposure, Clark County has a 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Clark County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 9 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, Clark County ranks #68 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.46 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.11 / yr | $3M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 11.68 / yr | $127K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $500K |
| Lightning | Low | 51.28 / yr | $324K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.67 / yr | $93K |
| Hail | Low | 3.13 / yr | $268K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.21 / yr | $7M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.26 / yr | $878K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.53 / yr | $310K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.36 / yr | $778 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $21K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.77 / yr | $8K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6K |
| 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
Clark County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (9), Flood (4), Snowstorm (4).
| 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, and Landslides |
| November 2024 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Hurricane Helene |
| April 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2021 | Flood | Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| March 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 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 Clark County?
Clark County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 38.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 38th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Clark County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (Medium, $1M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $3M EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $127K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Clark County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Clark County ranks #68 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Clark County had?
FEMA records 27 federal disaster declarations for Clark County since 1974, most often 9 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. Clark County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.