Whitley County, Kentucky Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · KY
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 62th
Whitley County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 62.2, 62th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $18M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Whitley County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 62.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 62nd 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 landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $26K in expected annual loss and about 1.29 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $555K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $219K in expected annual loss and about 12.53 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $18M in expected annual loss for a population of 37K.
Beyond physical exposure, Whitley 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.
History supports the rating: Whitley County has received 38 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 17 for severe storm events and 9 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in May 2026.
Among 120 Kentucky counties, Whitley County ranks #31 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 1.29 / yr | $26K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.01 / yr | $555K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 12.53 / yr | $219K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.74 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 3.00 / yr | $11M |
| Hail | Low | 3.21 / yr | $441K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $620K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.58 / yr | $587K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.15 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.64 / yr | $556K |
| Lightning | Medium | 54.17 / yr | $249K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $35K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $199 |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.14 / yr | $22K |
| Drought | Very Low | 10.04 / yr | $7K |
| 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
Whitley County has received 38 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in May 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (17), Flood (9), Snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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, 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 |
| May 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| May 2023 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 38 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Whitley County?
Whitley County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 62.2 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 62th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Whitley County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $26K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $555K EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $219K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Whitley County compare to other Kentucky counties?
Whitley County ranks #31 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Whitley County had?
FEMA records 38 federal disaster declarations for Whitley County since 1974, most often 17 for severe storm events and 9 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in May 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. Whitley County's $18M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.