Boone County, KY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Boone County has experienced 13 federally declared disasters since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Boone County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, tornado, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 29% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (12th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Boone County has been designated in 13 declarations since 1974, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (5), biological (2), severe ice storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
Showing the 10 most recent of 13 total declarations since 1974.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 24.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 66.4 | 24 | 0 | $88K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 78.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 54 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 91.6 | 2 | 0 | $300K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 13.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 45 | 17 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 93.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 60.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 69.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 91.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 76.6 | 2 | 0 | $10K |
| Drought | Very Low | 18.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 42 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Boone County ranks in the 12th percentile (Very low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 12th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 4th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 47th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 41st | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 19th | Very low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 13th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 12th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 54.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 48 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 28 in 2016–20 vs 20 in 2021–25 (-29% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Boone County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Boone County, Kentucky are strong wind, tornado, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Boone County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Boone County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Boone County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Boone County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1974.
How does Boone County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Kenton County, KY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Ohio County, IN has the lowest (Very Low). Boone County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Boone County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Boone County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Boone County's composite score of 75 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 75% of US counties.