Natural Disasters in Columbus, KY

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

35.8

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

27.4

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

83.6

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

68.8

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

28

Public Assistance

$1.7M

Individual Assistance

$227K

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

14 declarations

Public Assistance by Category

Total: $1.4M
DisasterTypeDatePA $IA $
Severe Winter Storm →Winter StormJan 2026——
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Torn… →Severe StormApr 2025$21K—
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Torn… →Severe StormApr 2025——
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Floo… →Severe StormFeb 2025$75K—
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Floo… →Severe StormFeb 2025——
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Torn… →Severe StormJul 2024——
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Torn… →Severe StormApr 2023——
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Floo… →TornadoDec 2021$140K$3K
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Floo… →TornadoDec 2021——
Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and… →Severe StormApr 2020$52K—
Covid-19 Pandemic →BiologicalMar 2020—$87K
Covid-19 →BiologicalMar 2020——
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Floo… →Severe StormApr 2019$175K—
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Land… →FloodApr 2018$46K—
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding →Severe StormMay 2011$356K$137K
Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and … →Severe StormMay 2010$183K—
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding and M… →Severe StormMay 2009$172K—
Severe Winter Storm and Flooding →Severe Ice StormFeb 2009$240K—
Severe Winter Storm →Severe Ice StormJan 2009——
Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropic… →Severe StormOct 2008$35K—

Showing 20 of 28 disasters

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

13

Total Claims Paid

$6,152

Avg Claim Payout

$473

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

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

1

Federal Funding

$20,670

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.00

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
601.1: Generators1$20,670

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

Columbus has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are earthquake, ice storm, drought. The area has had 28 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (14 declarations). 13 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $1,701,421 in public assistance recovery funding. $226,739 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 1 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.