Pike County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 88th
Pike County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 87.9, 88th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $50M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Pike County carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 87.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 88th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Pike County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at High risk — $980K in expected annual loss and about 2.47 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at High risk — $45M in expected annual loss and about 3.32 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $1000K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $50M in expected annual loss for a population of 59K.
Beyond physical exposure, Pike 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.
The federal record bears this out: Pike County has received 47 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 20 for severe storm events and 15 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Pike County ranks #7 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | High | 2.47 / yr | $980K |
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.32 / yr | $45M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $1000K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 17.32 / yr | $174K |
| Avalanche | Low | 0.01 / yr | $12K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.88 / yr | $738K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.58 / yr | $565K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $281K |
| Hail | Low | 3.09 / yr | $218K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $57K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.89 / yr | $604K |
| Lightning | Low | 49.62 / yr | $110K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.17 / yr | $30K |
| Drought | Very Low | 4.51 / yr | $3K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $158K |
| 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
Pike County has received 47 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (20), Flood (15), Fire (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 2022 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| February 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides |
| April 2021 | Flood | Severe, Storms, Flooding, 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 47 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Pike County?
Pike County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 87.9 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 88th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Pike County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (High, $980K EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $45M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $1000K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Pike County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Pike County ranks #7 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Pike County had?
FEMA records 47 federal disaster declarations for Pike County since 1967, most often 20 for severe storm events and 15 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. Pike County's $50M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.