riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Morgan County Disaster Risk

Morgan County, Kentucky

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

22th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#98

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

Relatively Low

Higher than 71% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 30% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 37% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 37% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Morgan County

Risk Verdict

Morgan County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 22th 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

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Morgan County, scoring in the 71th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 46th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (37th), earthquake (37th), tornado (30th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Morgan 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

Morgan County is notably safer than the average county in Kentucky. Its composite risk score is 22.1 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Morgan County, KY?
Morgan County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 22th 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 Morgan County?
Morgan County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (71th percentile), flooding (46th percentile), hurricane (37th percentile), earthquake (37th percentile), tornado (30th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 71th 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 Morgan County risk compare to the Kentucky average?
Morgan County's composite risk percentile is 22th, compared to the Kentucky state average of 44th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Morgan County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Kentucky.
Is Morgan County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Morgan County's wildfire risk is at the 71th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Morgan 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 Morgan County a safe place to live?
Morgan County's composite risk score of 22th 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 wildfire at the 71th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Metcalfe County

Kentucky

-0.3

Very Low

22th percentile

Carroll County

Kentucky

+1.3

Very Low

23th percentile

Jackson County

Kentucky

+2.1

Very Low

24th 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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