Pulaski County, KY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Pulaski County has experienced 25 federally declared disasters since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Pulaski County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, hail, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 26% 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. Pulaski County has been designated in 25 declarations since 1971, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (11), snowstorm (3), tornado (3).
| 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 25 total declarations since 1971.
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 | 64.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 81.6 | 35 | 0 | $70K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 83.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 66.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 83 | 2 | 1 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 56.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 89.2 | 27 | 0 | $20K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 86 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 94.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 59.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 88.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 78 | 2 | 0 | $55K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 38.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 64.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 13.3 | — | — | — |
| 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
Pulaski 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 | 75th | High |
| Household characteristics | 89th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 13th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 37th | 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 | 67th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 62nd | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 72.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 66 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 38 in 2016–20 vs 28 in 2021–25 (-26% — 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 Pulaski County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Pulaski County, Kentucky are winter weather, hail, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Pulaski County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Pulaski County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (11 declarations).
Has Pulaski County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Pulaski 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 1971.
How does Pulaski County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Laurel County, KY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and McCreary County, KY has the lowest (Very Low). Pulaski County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Pulaski County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Pulaski 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. Pulaski County's composite score of 79 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 79% of US counties.