Grant County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 16th
Grant County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 16.3, 16th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Grant County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 16.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 16th 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 Grant County's expected losses come from tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.16 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $372K in expected annual loss and about 50.93 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $757K in expected annual loss and about 5.15 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 25K.
Beyond physical exposure, Grant County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Grant County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1996, including 8 for severe storm events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Grant County ranks #106 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | Low | 0.16 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 50.93 / yr | $372K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.15 / yr | $757K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.80 / yr | $2K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 6.47 / yr | $288K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $161K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.68 / yr | $653K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.87 / yr | $48K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 10.79 / yr | $24K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.22 / yr | $2K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.29 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.42 / yr | $39K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| 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
Grant County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1996, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (8), Biological (2), Flood (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| May 2015 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| March 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Grant County?
Grant County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 16.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 16th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Grant County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Low, $2M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $372K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $757K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Grant County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Grant County ranks #106 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Grant County had?
FEMA records 18 federal disaster declarations for Grant County since 1996, most often 8 for severe storm events and 2 for biological 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. Grant County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.