riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Union County Disaster Risk

Union County, Kentucky

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

43th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#51

of 120 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

36th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 36% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 6% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 39% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 88% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 27% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Union County

Risk Verdict

Union County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 43th 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 Union County, scoring in the 88th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 39th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (36th), hurricane (27th), wildfire (6th).

Preparedness Context

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

Union County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Kentucky. Its composite risk score is within 1.4 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 Union County, KY?
Union County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 43th 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 Union County?
Union County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (88th percentile), tornado (39th percentile), flooding (36th percentile), hurricane (27th percentile), wildfire (6th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 88th 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 Union County risk compare to the Kentucky average?
Union County's composite risk percentile is 43th, compared to the Kentucky state average of 44th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Union County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Kentucky.
Is Union County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Union County's earthquake risk is at the 88th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Union County is at the 36th 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 Union County a safe place to live?
Union County's composite risk score of 43th 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 88th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Estill County

Kentucky

-1.0

Very Low

42th percentile

Boyle County

Kentucky

-1.2

Very Low

42th percentile

Lewis County

Kentucky

-1.3

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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