Robertson County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 2th
Robertson County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 1.7, 2th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $1M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Robertson County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 1.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 2nd 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 — $584 in expected annual loss and about 0.31 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Very Low risk — $40K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Very Low risk — $180K in expected annual loss and about 0.05 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $1M in expected annual loss for a population of 2K.
Beyond physical exposure, Robertson 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.
History supports the rating: Robertson County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1993, including 13 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, Robertson County ranks #120 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.31 / yr | $584 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $40K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $180K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 6.05 / yr | $47K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.39 / yr | $123K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.49 / yr | $612 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $6K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.42 / yr | $66K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 10.89 / yr | $6K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 50.59 / yr | $24K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.24 / yr | $16K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.46 / yr | $641K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $189 |
| 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
Robertson County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1993, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (13), Snowstorm (3), 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, 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 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| August 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Robertson County?
Robertson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 1.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 2th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Robertson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Very Low, $584 EAL), Earthquake (Very Low, $40K EAL), Tornado (Very Low, $180K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Robertson County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Robertson County ranks #120 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Robertson County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Robertson County since 1993, most often 13 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. Robertson County's $1M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.