Floyd County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 94th
Floyd County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.2, 94th national percentile), driven primarily by riverine flood and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $106M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Floyd County is medium, with a National Risk Index score of 94.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 94th national percentile and near the national midpoint 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 riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at High risk — $102M in expected annual loss and about 3.32 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $43K in expected annual loss and about 1.18 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $563K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $106M in expected annual loss for a population of 36K.
Beyond physical exposure, Floyd County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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.
History supports the rating: Floyd County has received 48 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 21 for severe storm events and 12 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Floyd County ranks #2 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.32 / yr | $102M |
| Landslide | Medium | 1.18 / yr | $43K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.01 / yr | $563K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 15.47 / yr | $135K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.58 / yr | $702K |
| Hail | Low | 3.20 / yr | $369K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $409K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $878 |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.58 / yr | $376K |
| Lightning | Medium | 50.68 / yr | $209K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $54K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.89 / yr | $545K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.06 / yr | $488K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.13 / yr | $22K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 4.93 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Floyd County has received 48 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (21), Flood (12), 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, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| February 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides |
| May 2023 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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 |
| April 2021 | Flood | Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 48 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Floyd County?
Floyd County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.2 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 94th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Floyd County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Riverine Flood (High, $102M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $43K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $563K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Floyd County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Floyd County ranks #2 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Floyd County had?
FEMA records 48 federal disaster declarations for Floyd County since 1967, most often 21 for severe storm events and 12 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. Floyd County's $106M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.