Pendleton County, KY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Pendleton County has experienced 22 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.
Pendleton County's highest-rated hazards are lightning, strong wind, and landslide, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 28 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Pendleton County has been designated in 22 declarations since 1968, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (9), snowstorm (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2015 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 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 | 5.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 49.1 | 23 | 1 | $40K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 30.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 35.2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 51.8 | 1 | 0 | $35K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 8.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 8.2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 58.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 17.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 30.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 29 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 71.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 18.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 58 | 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
Pendleton County ranks in the 52nd 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 | 52nd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 63rd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 37th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 12th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 64th | 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 | 15th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 14th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 91.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 28 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 14 in 2016–20 vs 14 in 2021–25 (0% — relatively stable).
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 Pendleton County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Pendleton County, Kentucky are lightning, strong wind, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Pendleton County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Pendleton County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (9 declarations).
Has Pendleton County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Pendleton County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (2025), 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 1968.
How does Pendleton 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 Robertson County, KY has the lowest (Very Low). Pendleton County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Pendleton County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Pendleton 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. Pendleton County's composite score of 30 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 30% of US counties.