riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Wolfe County Disaster Risk

Wolfe County, Kentucky

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

19th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#102

of 120 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

43th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 43% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 64% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 21% 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 31% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Wolfe County

Risk Verdict

Wolfe 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

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Wolfe County, scoring in the 64th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 43th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (31th), earthquake (30th), tornado (21th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Wolfe 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

Wolfe County is notably safer than the average county in Kentucky. Its composite risk score is 25.7 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 Wolfe County, KY?
Wolfe 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 Wolfe County?
Wolfe County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (64th percentile), flooding (43th percentile), hurricane (31th percentile), earthquake (30th percentile), tornado (21th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 64th 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 Wolfe County risk compare to the Kentucky average?
Wolfe 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 Wolfe County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Kentucky.
Is Wolfe County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Wolfe County's wildfire risk is at the 64th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Wolfe County is at the 43th 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 Wolfe County a safe place to live?
Wolfe 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 wildfire at the 64th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Carlisle County

Kentucky

+0.2

Very Low

19th percentile

Butler County

Kentucky

-0.4

Very Low

18th percentile

Nicholas County

Kentucky

+0.4

Very Low

19th 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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