Laurel County
Kentucky — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 72th
Laurel County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 71.7, 72th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $24M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | High | 12.89 / yr | $355K |
| Hail | Medium | 3.13 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.79 / yr | $5M |
| Landslide | Low | 1.09 / yr | $30K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.15 / yr | $4M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 2.63 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.72 / yr | $972K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 53.42 / yr | $446K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.00 / yr | $8M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $62K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.32 / yr | $50K |
| Drought | Very Low | 7.74 / yr | $15K |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Laurel County?
Laurel County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 71.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 72th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Laurel County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (High, $355K EAL), Hail (Medium, $1M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Laurel County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Laurel County ranks #22 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
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. Laurel County's $24M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.