Bell County, Kentucky: hazard risk
FEMA rates Bell County's overall risk Relatively Low (score 68.0 of 100, higher than 67% of rated U.S. counties). Its storm record holds 532 events since 1950.
FEMA's rating for each hazard
These are FEMA's county-wide model ratings and this county's storm record. They are not an assessment of any property, address or building, and not insurance advice: a property's risk depends on its own elevation, construction and location.
FEMA gives each hazard its own rating, and a rating does not follow the score from one hazard to the next: a hazard with a higher score can carry a lower rating than another. The table sorts by FEMA's rating, then by score (0 to 100, the county against every other county for that hazard).
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 89.1 | $36K |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 82.0 | $15M |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 73.2 | $1.7M |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 71.3 | $95K |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | 73.3 | $156K |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | 69.7 | $3K |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 52.1 | $199K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 46.6 | $348K |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 42.8 | $182K |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 41.6 | $641K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 59.4 | $308K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 35.2 | $15K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 22.5 | $14K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 20.6 | $49K |
| Drought | Very Low | 17.4 | $1K |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. A model of future loss, not a count of past events. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
What the record holds
| Hazard | Records | Deaths | Damage | Rank in state | Rank in U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 186 | 0 | $882K | 73rd of 118 | 693rd of 3,080 |
| Winter storms | 109 | 0 | – | 52nd of 118 | 758th of 3,077 |
| Floods | 106 | 0 | $52M | 39th of 118 | 242nd of 3,080 |
| Hail | 60 | 0 | $17K | 81st of 118 | 1778th of 3,080 |
| Heavy rain | 21 | 0 | $29K | 19th of 118 | 267th of 3,080 |
| High wind and dust storms | 16 | 0 | $69K | 43rd of 118 | 983rd of 3,080 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 0 | – | 42nd of 118 | 666th of 3,076 |
| Tornadoes | 6 | 1 | $63M | 92nd of 118 | 2271st of 3,080 |
| Drought | 3 | 0 | – | 45th of 118 | 2069th of 3,063 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 3 | 0 | $5K | 12th of 118 | 136th of 2,278 |
| Wildfires | 2 | 1 | – | 10th of 118 | 461st of 2,972 |
| Heat | 1 | 0 | – | 71st of 118 | 2107th of 3,076 |
| Lightning | 1 | 0 | $91K | 72nd of 118 | 1667th of 3,080 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026-06-30; damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.
The full Bell County record: every hazard by year and month, the deadliest events and FEMA's declarations.