Ohio County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 54th
Ohio County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 54.2, 54th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Ohio County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 54.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 54th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $620K in expected annual loss and about 1.39 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 3.13 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $14M in expected annual loss for a population of 24K.
Beyond physical exposure, Ohio County has a 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: Ohio County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 15 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, Ohio County ranks #40 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | High | 1.39 / yr | $620K |
| Hail | Medium | 3.13 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.36 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.45 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 6.32 / yr | $415K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 7.58 / yr | $58K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.86 / yr | $6M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 1.15 / yr | $1K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.00 / yr | $739K |
| Drought | Low | 3.34 / yr | $91K |
| Lightning | Low | 52.89 / yr | $131K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $24K |
| 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
Ohio County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (15), Flood (4), Tornado (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 |
| 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 |
| April 2021 | Flood | Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 30 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Ohio County?
Ohio County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 54.2 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 54th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Ohio County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (High, $620K EAL), Hail (Medium, $1M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Ohio County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Ohio County ranks #40 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Ohio County had?
FEMA records 30 federal disaster declarations for Ohio County since 1971, most often 15 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. Ohio County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.