Simpson County, KY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Simpson County has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Simpson County's highest-rated hazards are hail, earthquake, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 32% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (23rd percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Simpson County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1969, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (8), 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, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 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 |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 total declarations since 1969.
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 | Very Low | 24.2 | 41 | 3 | $45K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 76.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 39.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 55.4 | 4 | 0 | $60K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 27.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 83.1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 58.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 38.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 63.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 44.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 55.1 | 1 | 0 | $30K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 45.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 6.5 | 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
Simpson County ranks in the 23rd percentile (Very low) 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 | 23rd | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 48th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 4th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 43rd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 22nd | Very 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 | 8th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 7th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 53.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 47 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 28 in 2016–20 vs 19 in 2021–25 (-32% — 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 Simpson County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Simpson County, Kentucky are hail, earthquake, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Simpson County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Simpson County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (8 declarations).
Has Simpson County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Simpson 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, Landslides, And Mudslides (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 1969.
How does Simpson County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Warren County, KY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Butler County, KY has the lowest (Very Low). Simpson County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Simpson County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Simpson 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. Simpson County's composite score of 27 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 27% of US counties.