riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Hopkins County Disaster Risk

Hopkins County, Kentucky

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

73th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#20

of 120 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

67th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 67% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 19% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 80% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 30% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Hopkins County, Kentucky

Hopkins County exceeds state risk average

Hopkins County's composite risk score of 72.55 earns a Relatively Low rating but exceeds Kentucky's state average of 44.21 by 64%. The county faces substantially elevated multi-hazard exposure compared to most of the commonwealth.

Among Kentucky's highest-risk counties

Hopkins County ranks in the upper tier of Kentucky's 120 counties for natural disaster risk. Its Relatively Low rating reflects significant exposure to tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods.

Riskier than most regional peers

Hopkins County's 72.55 score closely mirrors Henderson County (73.16) and far exceeds safer neighbors like Harrison (33.78) and Henry (15.74). The elevated tornado risk (79.61) and earthquake exposure (91.67) drive this regional distinction.

Tornadoes and earthquakes pose major threats

Tornado risk reaches 79.61 in Hopkins County—the highest among these eight counties—with earthquake risk following at 91.67. Flood risk (66.63) presents a significant third concern for communities near waterways.

Don't skip earthquake or tornado coverage

Hopkins County residents must ensure homeowners insurance includes tornado protection and should prioritize earthquake coverage given the county's above-state-average seismic risk. Consider a safe room or shelter to supplement insurance for tornado protection.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Hopkins County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    EarthquakePrepare
    92th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    80th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    67th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Hopkins County

Risk Verdict

Hopkins County ranks at the 73th percentile nationally for natural disaster risk — below the median for U.S. counties. Residents are encouraged to understand which hazards dominate locally and tailor their preparedness accordingly.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is Hopkins County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 92th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 80th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (67th percentile), hurricane (30th percentile), wildfire (19th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Hopkins County ranks at the 92th percentile nationally for earthquake risk. Unlike most natural hazards, earthquakes provide no advance warning; preparedness here means structural adjustments and a practiced response, not alert monitoring. Tornado at the 80th percentile nationally is a separate hazard dimension for Hopkins County that requires different protective strategies from earthquake preparedness. For earthquake preparedness, Hopkins County's county emergency management office often maintains a list of community water supply points, Red Cross shelter locations, and post-quake assistance programs — useful resources to identify before an event occurs.

Regional Context

Compared to other Kentucky counties, Hopkins County runs 28.3 composite risk points higher than the state mean — reflecting above-average hazard concentration in this area.

Is your household prepared for Hopkins County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Hopkins County, KY?
Hopkins County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 73th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Hopkins County?
Hopkins County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (92th percentile), tornado (80th percentile), flooding (67th percentile), hurricane (30th percentile), wildfire (19th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 92th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Hopkins County risk compare to the Kentucky average?
Hopkins County's composite risk percentile is 73th, compared to the Kentucky state average of 44th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Hopkins County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Kentucky.
Is Hopkins County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Hopkins County's earthquake risk is at the 92th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Hopkins County is at the 67th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Hopkins County higher risk than average?
Hopkins County's composite risk score of 73th percentile is above the Kentucky state average of 44th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (92th percentile), along with tornado and flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Henderson County

Kentucky

+0.6

Relatively Low

73th percentile

Perry County

Kentucky

+0.7

Relatively Low

73th percentile

Bullitt County

Kentucky

-0.8

Relatively Low

72th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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