Knott County, KY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Knott County has experienced 43 federally declared disasters since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Knott County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, wildfire, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 60% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (73rd percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Knott County has been designated in 43 declarations since 1967, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (23), flood (13), snowstorm (3).
| 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, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 2023 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides |
| 2022 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2021 | Flood | Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 43 total declarations since 1967.
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 | Relatively Low | 74.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 73.1 | 17 | 16 | $23K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 35.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 32.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 19.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 34.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 31 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 32.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 52.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 10.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 36.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 27 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 92.9 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 56.3 | — | — | — |
| 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
Knott County ranks in the 73rd percentile (Moderate) 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 | 73rd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 72nd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 48th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 1st | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 97th | High |
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 | 95th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 91st | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 98.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 26 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 10 in 2016–20 vs 16 in 2021–25 (+60% — frequency increasing).
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 Knott County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Knott County, Kentucky are landslide, wildfire, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Knott County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Knott County has received 43 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (23 declarations).
Has Knott County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Knott County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (2025), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (2025), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1967.
How does Knott County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Floyd County, KY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Leslie County, KY has the lowest (Very Low). Knott County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Knott County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Knott 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. Knott County's composite score of 52 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 52% of US counties.