Leslie County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 32th
Leslie County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 31.7, 32th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and avalanche exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Leslie County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 31.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 32nd 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 landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $88K in expected annual loss and about 1.42 events per year; avalanche (fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes) at Very Low risk — $2K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $73K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 10K.
Beyond physical exposure, Leslie County has a 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.
History supports the rating: Leslie County has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 18 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, Leslie County ranks #78 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 1.42 / yr | $88K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $73K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.64 / yr | $6M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 14.53 / yr | $38K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $108K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.89 / yr | $454K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 5.42 / yr | $245K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $11K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.37 / yr | $88K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.58 / yr | $76K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $201K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 52.02 / yr | $39K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $2K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 8.52 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Leslie County has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (18), Flood (12), Biological (2).
| 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 |
| July 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| May 2023 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| July 2022 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2021 | Flood | Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| March 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 39 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Leslie County?
Leslie County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 31.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 32th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Leslie County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $88K EAL), Avalanche (Very Low, $2K EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $73K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Leslie County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Leslie County ranks #78 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Leslie County had?
FEMA records 39 federal disaster declarations for Leslie County since 1967, most often 18 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. Leslie County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.