riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Laurel County Disaster Risk

Laurel County, Kentucky

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

72th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#22

of 120 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

65th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 65% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 90% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 84% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 77% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 51% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Laurel County

Risk Verdict

Laurel County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 72th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Laurel County, scoring in the 90th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 84th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (77th), flood (65th), hurricane (51th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Laurel County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as tornado also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Laurel County is significantly riskier than the average county in Kentucky. Its composite risk score is 27.5 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Laurel County, KY?
Laurel County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 72th 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 Laurel County?
Laurel County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (90th percentile), tornado (84th percentile), earthquake (77th percentile), flooding (65th percentile), hurricane (51th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 90th 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 Laurel County risk compare to the Kentucky average?
Laurel County's composite risk percentile is 72th, compared to the Kentucky state average of 44th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Laurel County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Kentucky.
Is Laurel County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Laurel County's wildfire risk is at the 90th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Laurel County is at the 65th 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 Laurel County higher risk than average?
Laurel County's composite risk score of 72th percentile is above the Kentucky state average of 44th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (90th percentile), along with tornado and earthquake and flooding and hurricane 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

Bullitt County

Kentucky

+0.1

Relatively Low

72th percentile

Johnson County

Kentucky

-0.6

Relatively Low

71th percentile

Hopkins County

Kentucky

+0.9

Relatively Low

73th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & 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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