Mason County, KY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Mason County has experienced 23 federally declared disasters since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Mason County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, tornado, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 24% 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. Mason County has been designated in 23 declarations since 1968, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (12), flood (2), biological (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 |
| 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2021 | Flood | Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Tornadoes |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 total declarations since 1968.
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 | 6.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 56.2 | 35 | 0 | $810K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 54.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 50.4 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 57.9 | 5 | 0 | $440K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 35.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 38.1 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 73 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 45.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 39.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 20.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 46.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 26.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 39.9 | 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
Mason County ranks in the 65th 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 | 65th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 60th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 83rd | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 35th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 57th | 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 | 23rd | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 21st | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 76.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 47 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 21 in 2016–20 vs 26 in 2021–25 (+24% — 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 Mason County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Mason County, Kentucky are strong wind, tornado, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Mason County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Mason County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (12 declarations).
Has Mason County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Mason County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (2025), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, And Mudslides (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1968.
How does Mason County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Brown County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Robertson County, KY has the lowest (Very Low). Mason County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Mason County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Mason 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. Mason County's composite score of 39 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 39% of US counties.