# Kentucky ranks 10th nationally for strong-wind property damage **Published:** 2026-08-19T18:47:14.000Z **Source:** [Lane Report (KY Business)](https://www.lanereport.com/189004/2026/08/kentucky-wind-damage-property-losses-ranking/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/kentucky-ranks-10th-nationally-for-strong-wind-property-damage Kentucky ranks 10th in the nation for strong-wind property damage per capita, according to [a new analysis by law firm Barcus Arenas PLLC](https://www.lanereport.com/189004/2026/08/kentucky-wind-damage-property-losses-ranking/). The study found the state recorded an estimated $478,700 in property damage attributed to strong wind events between 2021 and 2026, equivalent to about $10,486 in losses per 100,000 residents. That per-capita figure placed Kentucky just behind Idaho, which ranked ninth at $14,227 per 100,000 residents, and ahead of Georgia at $8,641. Kentucky's rate was approximately 21% higher than Georgia's rate, the study found. The findings underscore the financial risks wind events pose to property owners and businesses across Kentucky. Strong winds can damage homes and commercial buildings, knock down trees and power lines, damage vehicles and disrupt infrastructure and business operations. Several of Kentucky's neighboring states also ranked high on the list. West Virginia ranked fifth with $49,140 in damage per 100,000 residents, while Tennessee ranked eighth at $16,342. At the opposite end of the rankings, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota reported no property damage in the strong-wind event category during the study period. The analysis used National Weather Service property damage estimates attributed specifically to strong wind events and compared them with average annual state population figures. The study methodology focused exclusively on strong wind damage rather than losses from other severe weather categories, an important distinction for Kentucky, where property losses also result from tornadoes, thunderstorms, flooding, hail and winter storms. Alabama ranked first by a substantial margin, with an estimated $21.8 million in total strong-wind property damage, equivalent to $425,321 per 100,000 residents. Vermont ranked second at $285,024 per 100,000 residents, followed by Alaska at $189,978 and Montana at $104,149. The study also measured estimated property damage rather than total economic losses, meaning business interruptions, cleanup expenses and other indirect costs may not be fully reflected in the totals. ## Sources - [Lane Report (KY Business)](https://www.lanereport.com/189004/2026/08/kentucky-wind-damage-property-losses-ranking/) - [Barcus Arenas PLLC - Study methodology and data](https://www.barcusarenas.law) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Lane Report (KY Business), enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://www.lanereport.com/189004/2026/08/kentucky-wind-damage-property-losses-ranking/.