riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

McLean County Disaster Risk

McLean County, Kentucky

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

41th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#58

of 120 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

46th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 5% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 38% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 85% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 27% of US counties

Risk Advisory: McLean County

Risk Verdict

McLean County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 41th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for McLean County, scoring in the 85th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 46th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (38th), hurricane (27th), wildfire (5th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, McLean County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. 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

McLean County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Kentucky. Its composite risk score is within 3.5 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Kentucky as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in McLean County, KY?
McLean County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 41th 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 McLean County?
McLean County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (85th percentile), flooding (46th percentile), tornado (38th percentile), hurricane (27th percentile), wildfire (5th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 85th 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 McLean County risk compare to the Kentucky average?
McLean County's composite risk percentile is 41th, compared to the Kentucky state average of 44th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means McLean County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Kentucky.
Is McLean County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, McLean County's earthquake risk is at the 85th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, McLean County is at the 46th 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.
Is McLean County a safe place to live?
McLean County's composite risk score of 41th percentile is below the Kentucky state average of 44th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is earthquake at the 85th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Meade County

Kentucky

+0.2

Very Low

41th percentile

Hart County

Kentucky

+0.4

Very Low

41th percentile

Mercer County

Kentucky

+0.7

Very Low

41th 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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