riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Martin County Disaster Risk

Martin County, Kentucky

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

50th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#46

of 120 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

71th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 71% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 77% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 22% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 30% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 40% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Martin County

Risk Verdict

Martin County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 50th 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 Martin County, scoring in the 77th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 71th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (40th), earthquake (30th), tornado (22th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Martin 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 flood 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

Martin County is significantly riskier than the average county in Kentucky. Its composite risk score is 5.7 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 Martin County, KY?
Martin County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 50th 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 Martin County?
Martin County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (77th percentile), flooding (71th percentile), hurricane (40th percentile), earthquake (30th percentile), tornado (22th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 77th 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 Martin County risk compare to the Kentucky average?
Martin County's composite risk percentile is 50th, compared to the Kentucky state average of 44th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Martin County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Kentucky.
Is Martin County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Martin County's wildfire risk is at the 77th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Martin County is at the 71th 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 Martin County higher risk than average?
Martin County's composite risk score of 50th percentile is above the Kentucky state average of 44th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (77th percentile), along with 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

Trigg County

Kentucky

-1.5

Relatively Low

48th percentile

Rowan County

Kentucky

-2.0

Relatively Low

48th percentile

Knott County

Kentucky

+2.2

Relatively Low

52th 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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