Lyon County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 29th
Lyon County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 28.9, 29th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and strong wind 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 Lyon County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 28.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 29th 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 Lyon County's expected losses come from ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $579K in expected annual loss and about 1.56 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 4.33 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $2M 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 9K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lyon County has a high 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). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Lyon County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1996, including 11 for severe storm events and 3 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Lyon County ranks #87 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | High | 1.56 / yr | $579K |
| Strong Wind | High | 4.33 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.01 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Medium | 6.62 / yr | $375K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.22 / yr | $856K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 6.89 / yr | $44K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.76 / yr | $874 |
| Heat Wave | Low | 9.05 / yr | $226K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.89 / yr | $382K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.88 / yr | $97K |
| Lightning | Low | 55.27 / yr | $71K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.00 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $4K |
| 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
Lyon County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1996, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Snowstorm (3), Tornado (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| July 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 |
| December 2021 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| December 2021 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Lyon County?
Lyon County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 28.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 29th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lyon County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (High, $579K EAL), Strong Wind (High, $1M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lyon County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Lyon County ranks #87 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Lyon County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Lyon County since 1996, most often 11 for severe storm events and 3 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. Lyon County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.