Lewis County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 41th
Lewis County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 41.5, 41th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Lewis County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 41.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 41st 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $20K in expected annual loss and about 1.08 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Low risk — $8M in expected annual loss and about 1.86 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $409K in expected annual loss and about 5.79 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 13K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lewis 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: Lewis County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 19 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Lewis County ranks #54 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 1.08 / yr | $20K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.86 / yr | $8M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.79 / yr | $409K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.30 / yr | $329K |
| Lightning | Low | 49.77 / yr | $113K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 11.16 / yr | $29K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.18 / yr | $512K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $14K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.56 / yr | $25K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $64 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $40K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.77 / yr | $7K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.04 / yr | $56K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.37 / yr | $114K |
| 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
Lewis County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (19), Flood (4), Severe Ice Storm (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, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| February 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides |
| November 2024 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Hurricane Helene |
| March 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 34 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Lewis County?
Lewis County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 41.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 41th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lewis County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $20K EAL), Riverine Flood (Low, $8M EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $409K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lewis County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Lewis County ranks #54 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Lewis County had?
FEMA records 34 federal disaster declarations for Lewis County since 1967, most often 19 for severe storm events and 4 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. Lewis County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.