Elliott County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 12th
Elliott County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 12.2, 12th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $3M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Elliott County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 12.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 12th 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 Elliott County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $25K in expected annual loss and about 0.72 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $44K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $185K in expected annual loss and about 2.58 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $3M in expected annual loss for a population of 7K.
Beyond physical exposure, Elliott 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: Elliott County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including 17 for severe storm events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Elliott County ranks #113 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 0.72 / yr | $25K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $44K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.58 / yr | $185K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 14.68 / yr | $25K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $13K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $69K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.86 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.41 / yr | $17K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.95 / yr | $161K |
| Lightning | Low | 49.76 / yr | $60K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $210K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.27 / yr | $47K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.77 / yr | $2K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.16 / yr | $91K |
| 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
Elliott County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1989, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (17), Flood (5), Severe Ice Storm (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 |
| November 2024 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Hurricane Helene |
| May 2023 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 34 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Elliott County?
Elliott County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 12.2 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 12th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Elliott County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $25K EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $44K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $185K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Elliott County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Elliott County ranks #113 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Elliott County had?
FEMA records 34 federal disaster declarations for Elliott County since 1989, most often 17 for severe storm events and 5 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. Elliott County's $3M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.