Owen County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 15th
Owen County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 15.2, 15th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Owen County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 15.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 15th 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 Very Low risk — $2K in expected annual loss and about 1.00 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.23 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Low risk — $549K in expected annual loss and about 5.65 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $6M in expected annual loss for a population of 11K.
Beyond physical exposure, Owen County has a low 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The federal record bears this out: Owen County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 9 for severe storm events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Owen County ranks #108 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Very Low | 1.00 / yr | $2K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.23 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 5.65 / yr | $549K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.94 / yr | $56K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $98K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.79 / yr | $4M |
| Lightning | Low | 51.35 / yr | $97K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 6.47 / yr | $100K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.82 / yr | $6K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.68 / yr | $252K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 10.79 / yr | $14K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.54 / yr | $37K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| 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
Owen County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (9), Flood (5), 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, and Landslides |
| April 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| May 2015 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Owen County?
Owen County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 15.2 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 15th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Owen County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Very Low, $2K EAL), Tornado (Low, $1M EAL), Strong Wind (Low, $549K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Owen County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Owen County ranks #108 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Owen County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Owen County since 1974, most often 9 for severe storm events and 5 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. Owen County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.