Jessamine County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 40th
Jessamine County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 39.8, 40th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $18M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Jessamine County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 39.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 40th 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 High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 6.39 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $994K in expected annual loss and about 52.34 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $186K in expected annual loss and about 11.47 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $18M in expected annual loss for a population of 53K.
Beyond physical exposure, Jessamine County has a very low 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Jessamine County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including 10 for severe storm events and 4 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Jessamine County ranks #60 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | High | 6.39 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 52.34 / yr | $994K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 11.47 / yr | $186K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.08 / yr | $4M |
| Hail | Low | 3.29 / yr | $596K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $531K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.88 / yr | $141K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.16 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.71 / yr | $8M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.74 / yr | $350K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $43K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $162 |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.49 / yr | $3K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $3K |
| 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
Jessamine County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Snowstorm (4), Flood (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, and Landslides |
| May 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2021 | Flood | Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2015 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Jessamine County?
Jessamine County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 39.8 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 40th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jessamine County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (High, $2M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $994K EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $186K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jessamine County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Jessamine County ranks #60 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Jessamine County had?
FEMA records 25 federal disaster declarations for Jessamine County since 1968, most often 10 for severe storm events and 4 for snowstorm 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. Jessamine County's $18M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.