riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Nicholas County Disaster Risk

Nicholas County, Kentucky

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

19th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#100

of 120 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

41th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 2% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 36% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 39% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 31% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Nicholas County

Risk Verdict

Nicholas County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 19th 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

Flood risk is the dominant hazard for Nicholas County, scoring in the 41th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 39th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (36th), hurricane (31th), wildfire (2th).

Preparedness Context

With flood risk as the top concern, Nicholas County residents should review flood insurance needs (standard home insurance does not cover flood damage), know your evacuation zone, and keep important documents waterproofed. Secondary risks such as earthquake 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

Nicholas County is notably safer than the average county in Kentucky. Its composite risk score is 25.2 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 Nicholas County, KY?
Nicholas County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 19th 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 Nicholas County?
Nicholas County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: flooding (41th percentile), earthquake (39th percentile), tornado (36th percentile), hurricane (31th percentile), wildfire (2th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is flooding at the 41th 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 Nicholas County risk compare to the Kentucky average?
Nicholas County's composite risk percentile is 19th, compared to the Kentucky state average of 44th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Nicholas County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Kentucky.
Is Nicholas County at risk for flooding?
Yes, Nicholas County's flooding risk is at the 41th percentile nationally. This is below the national median, indicating relatively lower exposure.
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 Nicholas County a safe place to live?
Nicholas County's composite risk score of 19th 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 flooding at the 41th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Carlisle County

Kentucky

-0.3

Very Low

19th percentile

Wolfe County

Kentucky

-0.4

Very Low

19th percentile

Butler County

Kentucky

-0.9

Very Low

18th 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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