Trigg County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 48th
Trigg County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 48.4, 48th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $11M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Trigg County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 48.4 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $423K in expected annual loss and about 1.42 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; and drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $515K in expected annual loss and about 6.32 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $11M in expected annual loss for a population of 14K.
Beyond physical exposure, Trigg County has a very high 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). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The federal record bears this out: Trigg County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including 14 for severe storm events and 3 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Trigg County ranks #47 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | High | 1.42 / yr | $423K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.01 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Medium | 6.32 / yr | $515K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.41 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 55.65 / yr | $256K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 6.42 / yr | $59K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.98 / yr | $1K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 8.84 / yr | $271K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.36 / yr | $4M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.84 / yr | $555K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.19 / yr | $327K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.77 / yr | $91K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $6K |
| 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
Trigg County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1989, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (14), Flood (3), Snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 26 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Trigg County?
Trigg County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 48.4 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 Trigg County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (High, $423K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL), Drought (Medium, $515K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Trigg County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Trigg County ranks #47 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Trigg County had?
FEMA records 26 federal disaster declarations for Trigg County since 1989, most often 14 for severe storm events and 3 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. Trigg County's $11M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.