County Hazards

States › Kentucky

Kentucky

The recorded hazard history of every county in Kentucky: storm events since 1950, federal disaster declarations since 1953, and National Flood Insurance Program claims since 1978.

Kentucky has 55,285 weather events in the NCEI Storm Events record since 1950 across 120 counties, led by damaging wind: 140.0 per 100 square miles against 56.0 nationally.

NCEI attributes 599 deaths and 4,917 injuries to those events, with property damage estimated at $3.5B. By events per 100 square miles the leading counties are McCracken, Carlisle and Fulton.

FEMA lists 99 disaster declarations touching the state since 1953, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (1 Sep 2026). NFIP policyholders filed 27,947 flood claims since 1978, $528M paid; 14,136 residential policies are in force.

1,254events, last 12 monthsto 30 Jun 2026
55,285events since 1950140.0 per 100 sq mi (US 56.0)
99disaster declarations since 1953last 1 Sep 2026
27,947NFIP flood claims$528M paid

NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026; declarations refreshed 29 Sep 2026; claims as of 8 Sep 2026.

Compared with the United States

MeasureKentuckyUS
Recorded events since 195055,2851,977,440
Events per 100 square miles140.056.0
Events per 10,000 residents122.659.6
Deaths recorded by NCEI59926,435
Property damage (NCEI estimates)$3.5B$575B
NFIP claims per 1,000 residents6.28.1
Average paid NFIP claim$22K$43K
Residential flood policies in force14,1363,139,862

Hazard mix

Wind22,160
Flood8,294
Winter8,092
Hail6,621
Cold2,283
Heat2,073
Fog1,927
Tornado1,497
Other1,030
Drought1,021
Lightning239
Wildfire48
HazardEventsShare of USDeaths
■ Wind22,1603.2%39
■ Flood8,2944.5%169
■ Winter8,0922.8%82
■ Hail6,6211.6%1
■ Cold2,2834.2%21
■ Heat2,0733.7%11
■ Fog1,92710.5%4
■ Tornado1,4971.8%246
■ Other1,0302.2%3
■ Drought1,0211.2%—
■ Lightning2391.3%21
■ Wildfire480.5%2

Events by decade

Hail: 17Tornado: 38Wind: 60
Hail: 88Tornado: 86Wind: 220
Hail: 137Tornado: 156Wind: 516
Hail: 281Tornado: 99Wind: 1097
Hail: 885Tornado: 178Flood: 919Wind: 2219Winter: 641Heat: 150Cold: 153Drought: 178Wildfire: 1Lightning: 28Fog: 71Other: 13
Hail: 2485Tornado: 270Flood: 2462Wind: 5972Winter: 1941Heat: 310Cold: 644Drought: 212Wildfire: 29Lightning: 85Fog: 339Other: 315
Hail: 1950Tornado: 364Flood: 3198Wind: 7267Winter: 3887Heat: 1039Cold: 1003Drought: 451Wildfire: 18Lightning: 98Fog: 907Other: 578
Hail: 778Tornado: 306Flood: 1715Wind: 4809Winter: 1623Heat: 574Cold: 483Drought: 180Lightning: 28Fog: 610Other: 124
1151950s3941960s8091970s1,4771980s5,4361990s15,0642000s20,7602010s11,2302020s
Recorded events in Kentucky by decade and hazard group, including events recorded by forecast zone. HailTornadoFloodWindWinterHeatColdDroughtWildfireLightningFogOther NCEI recorded only tornadoes, hail and thunderstorm wind before 1996.

Counties by events per 100 square miles

CountyEventsLast 12 moPer 100 sq miPer 10k residentsDominantTornadoesHailDeclarationsNFIP claimsNRI risk
McCracken County1,03127414.5152.8Wind287723307Relatively Moderate
Carlisle County66820352.61,394.3Wind641273Very Low
Fulton County68526332.61,051.9Wind15482625Relatively Low
Jefferson County1,26446331.916.2Wind34208255,557Relatively High
Ballard County80423325.61,044.8Wind21582845Very Low
Powell County5432303.4413.5Wind75335125Very Low
Gallatin County2808284.7319.1Wind3171733Very Low
Boyd County45318283.494.6Wind55133462Relatively Low
Marshall County83027274.6261.4Wind25932968Relatively Low
Hickman County65019268.31,469.3Wind14302813Very Low
Lyon County57323268.0650.9Wind1525220Very Low
Kenton County40113250.223.7Wind105315286Relatively Low
McLean County63126249.9693.4Wind84424134Very Low
Campbell County3787249.840.6Wind36117450Relatively Low
Estill County5940234.7421.5Wind8443842Very Low
Calloway County89222231.7237.5Wind431062028Relatively Low
Union County77723226.7573.7Wind29522816Very Low
Boone County55813226.640.6Wind18781339Relatively Low
Daviess County1,03427225.6100.3Wind3114819327Relatively Moderate
Livingston County69920223.1780.2Wind13622924Very Low
Montgomery County4311218.4152.7Wind3382475Very Low
Lee County4312206.4578.4Wind2334233Very Low
Oldham County38316204.555.8Wind1272181,083Relatively Low
Henderson County88130201.9198.7Wind288224380Relatively Low
Webster County66724200.8520.6Wind2254249Very Low
Carroll County25310196.6232.9Wind11282270Very Low
Fayette County55417195.317.2Wind97521457Relatively Moderate
Wolfe County4304193.5660.8Wind444341Very Low
Floyd County7444189.2210.9Wind290482,618Relatively Moderate
Muhlenberg County84522180.8275.3Wind26782415Relatively Low
Todd County67723180.8551.1Wind21582011Very Low
Caldwell County61724178.9488.8Wind18462711Very Low
Crittenden County63123175.3705.3Wind12292815Very Low
Perry County5921174.3212.0Wind16047594Relatively Low
Johnson County4532172.9200.8Wind45848309Relatively Low
Breathitt County8306168.6612.4Wind49149207Relatively Low
Owsley County3282166.2829.7Wind241496Very Low
Laurel County7206165.9115.1Wind191292812Relatively Low
Letcher County5576164.8262.1Winter24140188Relatively Low
Menifee County3342164.1539.2Wind6363217Very Low
Trigg County71823162.6505.9Wind2660261Relatively Low
Graves County89232161.7243.6Wind381002280Relatively Moderate
Bath County4350156.0340.4Wind94729100Very Low
Rowan County4291153.3172.6Wind24332293Relatively Low
Mason County36317151.2214.4Wind11332316Very Low
Hopkins County81628150.5180.8Wind21863073Relatively Low
Greenup County51734150.1145.0Wind56033713Relatively Low
Franklin County3103149.260.0Wind1042271,518Relatively Low
Bell County5321148.2223.0Wind66029566Relatively Low
Christian County1,05739147.3146.1Wind5713925978Relatively Low
Taylor County3918146.8149.0Wind1364248Very Low
Martin County3361146.3301.6Wind14437462Relatively Low
Morgan County5431142.5392.9Wind5533449Very Low
Magoffin County4331140.4376.6Wind36349260Very Low
Rockcastle County4375138.1271.2Wind7503519Very Low
Bracken County2789137.1329.4Wind61818113Very Low
Pulaski County9006136.7137.6Wind271502529Relatively Low
Whitley County5951135.9161.1Wind5713830Relatively Low
Jessamine County23212134.843.3Wind82326179Very Low
Robertson County1316131.1580.4Winter213240Very Low
Trimble County1966129.2229.8Wind11212243Very Low
Pike County9903125.8172.5Wind2138472,480Relatively Moderate
Bullitt County37212125.244.9Wind135028379Relatively Low
Jackson County4301124.6331.2Wind2733726Very Low
Grant County32012124.0126.8Wind840183Very Low
Scott County3448122.159.1Wind16351579Relatively Low
Boyle County2203122.071.6Wind12392115Very Low
Simpson County2858121.7144.5Wind17262024Very Low
Hancock County2284121.5251.5Wind9262511Very Low
Anderson County2433120.2101.1Wind9422559Very Low
Leslie County4813120.0468.0Wind3853954Very Low
Woodford County2214116.281.6Wind92025509Very Low
Warren County6296116.145.8Wind3313126124Relatively Moderate
Pendleton County31514113.7215.7Wind92722180Very Low
Spencer County2117113.0105.9Wind11303056Very Low
Harlan County5092109.3194.5Wind26533443Relatively Low
Elliott County2550108.8345.5Wind133342Very Low
Meade County33010108.0109.5Wind17602518Very Low
Madison County45915104.948.5Wind188028138Relatively Low
Fleming County3642104.4239.1Wind10422649Very Low
Knox County3983103.0133.1Wind35039120Relatively Low
Clinton County2036102.9219.1Wind1828191Very Low
Mercer County2498100.0109.0Wind152626187Very Low
Shelby County3761299.077.6Wind19652031Relatively Low
Carter County4031998.4152.6Wind25137449Relatively Low
Nelson County4111498.487.3Wind117224122Relatively Low
Garrard County2241297.3129.0Wind11252023Very Low
Bourbon County279396.3137.9Wind41822395Very Low
Lawrence County4001796.2245.5Wind5614932Relatively Low
McCreary County410196.1242.7Wind1067231Very Low
Clark County242295.865.6Wind72027288Very Low
Larue County250395.6166.4Wind15392521Very Low
Nicholas County185394.8239.9Wind153248Very Low
Henry County2691394.0171.8Wind17522332Very Low
Owen County3301194.0292.2Wind4312373Very Low
Clay County439193.5217.3Wind7524866Relatively Low
Green County260890.9230.3Wind1246273Very Low
Russell County227289.5125.0Wind930233Very Low
Knott County313089.0222.7Wind03743205Relatively Low
Wayne County406388.6207.8Wind955261Relatively Low
Hardin County5431787.148.7Wind3410027478Relatively Low
Butler County3671086.1298.5Wind11453034Very Low
Edmonson County259285.5210.7Wind1037261Very Low
Hart County3421482.9175.7Wind19682711Very Low
Harrison County2441479.6128.8Wind92124141Very Low
Barren County381578.185.5Wind21572221Relatively Low
Allen County260475.5125.0Wind9362211Very Low
Metcalfe County217774.9209.7Wind1935327Very Low
Marion County255574.3129.3Wind12382310Very Low
Lincoln County247674.2101.9Wind12302827Very Low
Grayson County3611372.2136.1Wind2084306Relatively Low
Adair County291871.8153.7Wind1347271Very Low
Breckinridge County403870.7195.1Wind25802827Very Low
Logan County382469.2137.6Wind24561935Relatively Low
Ohio County4021068.5169.7Wind14753115Relatively Low
Washington County202368.0167.3Wind9272932Very Low
Lewis County313764.8241.0Wind62634116Very Low
Casey County286364.4180.3Wind8533424Very Low
Monroe County199260.4177.2Wind1330222Very Low
Cumberland County180559.0306.2Wind1225244Very Low

Events are county-recorded plus zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county. NRI risk is FEMA's National Risk Index overall rating (December 2025).

Counties by flood claims per 100 policies in force

CountyClaims, last 10 yearsPolicies in forceClaims per 100 policiesClaims since 1978Paid
Oldham County364241151.01,083$28M
Woodford County135124108.9509$17M
Breathitt County123117105.1207$7.6M
Floyd County52257790.52,618$37M
Letcher County13616085.0188$7.7M
Clark County7610671.7288$6.1M
Franklin County18626271.01,518$32M
Pike County52392756.42,480$56M
Perry County12923554.9594$10.0M
Hardin County16730854.2478$9.9M
Greenup County15632048.8713$11M
McCracken County9419548.2307$8.6M
Johnson County9721146.0309$5.2M
Martin County9220046.0462$6.6M
Kenton County7018937.0286$2.7M

Counties with at least 100 residential policies in force. Claims by year of loss in the ten years to 2026, divided by residential policies in force as of 3 Aug 2026; a rough ratio, since policies in force today differ from those in force when the losses occurred.

Federal disaster declarations by year

195319902026
Declarations touching Kentucky by year declared, 1953 to 2026; each disaster number counted once.
Incident typeDeclarations
Severe Storm41
Flood27
Fire8
Tornado7
Snowstorm5
Severe Ice Storm3
Winter Storm2
Biological2
Tropical Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent declarations (each disaster number once, with the number of counties designated):

DeclaredNumberTypeIncidentTitleCounties
1 Sep 2026DR-4937Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides20
29 May 2026DR-4913Major disasterWinter StormSevere Winter Storm21
24 Jan 2026EM-3633EmergencyWinter StormSevere Winter Storm120
23 May 2025DR-4875Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes39
24 Apr 2025DR-4864Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides91
3 Apr 2025EM-3626EmergencySevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding120
24 Feb 2025DR-4860Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides69
16 Feb 2025EM-3624EmergencySevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides120
26 Nov 2024DR-4848Major disasterTropical StormRemnants Of Hurricane Helene34
23 Jul 2024DR-4804Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, And Mudslides58
22 May 2024DR-4782Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, And Mudslides11
9 May 2023DR-4711Major disasterFloodSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides22
10 Apr 2023DR-4702Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides88
29 Jul 2022DR-4663Major disasterFloodSevere Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides20
27 Feb 2022DR-4643Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides13

Flood insurance claims by year

197820022026
NFIP claims in Kentucky by year of loss, 1978 to 2026.

27,947 claims, 23,634 paid, $528M in total; 2,446 repetitive-loss and 542 severe repetitive-loss properties. ZIP codes in Kentucky with flood claims (378).

Year by year

Each year's events, declarations and claims: 2026 · 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012 · 2011 · 2010 · 2009 · 2008 · 2007 · 2006 · 2005 · 2004 · 2003 · 2002 · 2001 · 2000 · 1999 · 1998 · 1997 · and earlier years back to 1950

Questions and answers

Which Kentucky counties have the most recorded tornadoes?

Christian (57), Calloway (43) and Graves (38), by NCEI count since 1950. Larger counties record more events; the state table also ranks by events per 100 square miles.

Which Kentucky counties have the most flood insurance claims?

Jefferson (5,557), Floyd (2,618) and Pike (2,480) since 1978, in the OpenFEMA NFIP claims file.

How many federal disaster declarations has Kentucky had?

99 declarations since 1953 (major disaster, emergency and fire management assistance declarations combined), 3 of them in 2026 so far.

How does Kentucky compare with the national rate?

140.0 recorded events per 100 square miles against 56.0 nationally; 6.2 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents against 8.1.

Provenance

NOAA NCEI Storm Events through 30 Jun 2026; OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 refreshed 29 Sep 2026; OpenFEMA NfipClaims v3 as of 8 Sep 2026; NfipResidentialPenetrationRates v1 (3 Aug 2026); FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; US Census Bureau 2021 population and area. Built 30 Sep 2026. Methodology.