Nicholas County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 19th
Nicholas County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 19.0, 19th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Nicholas County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 19.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 19th 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 Nicholas County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $1K in expected annual loss and about 0.55 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Low risk — $340K in expected annual loss and about 4.63 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Low risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 1.82 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 8K.
Beyond physical exposure, Nicholas County has a very high 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). 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: Nicholas County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including 18 for severe storm events and 3 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Nicholas County ranks #100 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.55 / yr | $1K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.63 / yr | $340K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.82 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $89K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.09 / yr | $445K |
| Lightning | Low | 50.32 / yr | $81K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 11.58 / yr | $20K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $10K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.60 / yr | $17K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.18 / yr | $63K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.77 / yr | $8K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.53 / yr | $54K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.26 / yr | $134K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $542 |
| 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
Nicholas County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1989, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (18), Severe Ice Storm (3), 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, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| February 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides |
| November 2024 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Hurricane Helene |
| April 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| March 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 32 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Nicholas County?
Nicholas County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 19.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 19th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Nicholas County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Very Low, $1K EAL), Strong Wind (Low, $340K EAL), Riverine Flood (Low, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Nicholas County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Nicholas County ranks #100 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Nicholas County had?
FEMA records 32 federal disaster declarations for Nicholas County since 1989, most often 18 for severe storm events and 3 for severe ice storm 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. Nicholas County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.