Rowan County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 48th
Rowan County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 47.9, 48th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $13M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Rowan County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 47.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 48th 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.
Most of Rowan County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $19K in expected annual loss and about 0.65 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $545K in expected annual loss and about 49.94 events per year; and riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Low risk — $10M in expected annual loss and about 1.71 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $13M in expected annual loss for a population of 25K.
Beyond physical exposure, Rowan 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: Rowan County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1978, including 16 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, Rowan County ranks #48 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 0.65 / yr | $19K |
| Lightning | Medium | 49.94 / yr | $545K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.71 / yr | $10M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 14.84 / yr | $82K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.94 / yr | $530K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.74 / yr | $334K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $32K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $184K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $38K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.08 / yr | $767K |
| Hail | Low | 3.17 / yr | $149K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.45 / yr | $41K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.11 / yr | $241K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.77 / yr | $2K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $17 |
| 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
Rowan County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1978, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (16), Flood (4), Severe Ice Storm (3).
| 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, and Landslides |
| November 2024 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Hurricane Helene |
| March 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms, 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 |
| May 2015 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| May 2015 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
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 Rowan County?
Rowan County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 47.9 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 48th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Rowan County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $19K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $545K EAL), Riverine Flood (Low, $10M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Rowan County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Rowan County ranks #48 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Rowan County had?
FEMA records 32 federal disaster declarations for Rowan County since 1978, most often 16 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. Rowan County's $13M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.