Natural Disasters in Benham, KY

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

65.7

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

56.2

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

80.0

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

13.7

Score (0-100)

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster History & Federal Spending

Source: FEMA

Total Declarations

33

Public Assistance

$11.6M

Individual Assistance

$510K

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

11 declarations

Public Assistance by Category

Total: $11.1M
DisasterTypeDatePA $IA $
Severe Winter Storm →Winter StormJan 2026——
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Torn… →Severe StormApr 2025——
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Floo… →Severe StormFeb 2025$293K$178K
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Floo… →Severe StormFeb 2025——
Remnants of Hurricane Helene →Tropical StormNov 2024——
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Torn… →Severe StormJul 2024——
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Floo… →FloodMay 2023$1.4M—
Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and… →FloodJul 2022$965K$32K
Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, an… →FloodApr 2021$622K$37K
Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mu… →Severe Ice StormMar 2021$75K—
Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and… →Severe StormApr 2020$1.8M—
Covid-19 Pandemic →BiologicalMar 2020—$61K
Covid-19 →BiologicalMar 2020——
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Floo… →Severe StormApr 2019$3.4M—
Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and… →FloodApr 2018$805K—
Southeastern Kentucky Fire Complex →FireNov 2016——
Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding… →FloodMay 2015——
Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Floodi… →SnowstormApr 2015$120K—
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding →Severe StormMay 2011——
Hurricane Katrina →HurricaneSep 2005——

Showing 20 of 39 disasters

PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

440

Total Claims Paid

$2,325,682

Avg Claim Payout

$5,286

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

9

Federal Funding

$5,261,153

Properties Protected

2

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

2.95

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)4$43,138
403.1: Stormwater Management - Culverts2$0
401.1: Water and Sanitary Sewer System Protective Measures; 403.1: Stormwater Management - Culverts; 600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan); 601.1: Generators2$5,218,015
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine1$0

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Benham has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, strong wind, avalanche. The area has had 33 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (11 declarations). 440 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $11,617,317 in public assistance recovery funding. $510,420 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 9 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.