Laurel County, KY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Laurel County has experienced 28 federally declared disasters since 1970, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Laurel County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, hail, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 135% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Laurel County has been designated in 28 declarations since 1970, covering 9 disaster types including severe storm (13), snowstorm (3), winter storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2021 | Flood | Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 total declarations since 1970.
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 Moderate | 89.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 64.9 | 28 | 0 | $61K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 77.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 79.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 83.5 | 1 | 17 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 50.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 90.8 | 27 | 1 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 78.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 91.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 44 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 88.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 73.8 | 1 | 0 | $200K |
| Drought | Very Low | 28.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 86.9 | 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
Laurel County ranks in the 53rd 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 | 53rd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 58th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 47th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 4th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 69th | Moderate |
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 | 90th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 85th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 76.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 57 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 17 in 2016–20 vs 40 in 2021–25 (+135% — 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 Laurel County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Laurel County, Kentucky are winter weather, hail, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Laurel County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Laurel County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1970, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (13 declarations).
Has Laurel County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Laurel County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), 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), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, And Mudslides (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1970.
How does Laurel County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Pulaski County, KY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Jackson County, KY has the lowest (Very Low). Laurel County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Laurel County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Laurel 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. Laurel County's composite score of 72 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 72% of US counties.