How Likely Is a Tornado in McLean County, KY?
McLean County's tornado history, by the numbers
McLean County has recorded 8 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 9.5 years - our Low band. Put another way: McLean County sees more tornado activity than 23% of US counties. Among 120 Kentucky counties in this dataset, McLean County ranks 75 for how often a tornado touches down.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
4 weak and 4 significant tornadoes make up McLean County's 8-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure McLean County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Kentucky has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Kentucky this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
Power loss after a tornado outbreak in Kentucky often reaches homes the storm itself never touched. A battery-backup unit covers the outage without the fuel and venting a generator needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on McLean County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 253 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. McLean County has about 9,126 residents.