Flood Help Guide

Kentucky flood insurance and flood history

From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08

27,947NFIP flood claims since 1978
$527.8 millionPaid on those claims
$46,371Average paid claimlast 10 years
0.8%Homes with NFIP flood insurance
44Flood disaster declarationssince 2000

FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 27,947 flood insurance claims in Kentucky since 1978. The NFIP paid $527.8 million on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).

The year with the most claims was 1997, with 4,087, mostly from Flooding.

In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 5,289 claims, and the average paid claim was $46,371.

23% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).

About 0.8% of homes in Kentucky had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (14,136 of 1,733,651 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 19% (11,580 of 60,469).

Since 2000, FEMA has made 44 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of Kentucky. The most recent was DR-4937-KY (Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides), declared September 1, 2026.

Flood insurance claims in Kentucky by year

NFIP flood claims per year in Kentucky, 1978 to 202601.2k2.5k3.8k5k1978: 1,094 claims, $7.7 million paid1979: 672 claims, $2.1 million paid1980: 118 claims, $383,028 paid19801981: 377 claims, $1.4 million paid1982: 129 claims, $356,739 paid1983: 260 claims, $666,925 paid1984: 2,838 claims, $28.8 million paid1985: 58 claims, $191,355 paid1986: 22 claims, $110,178 paid1987: 48 claims, $144,830 paid1988: 49 claims, $200,648 paid1989: 1,436 claims, $10.2 million paid1990: 328 claims, $1.8 million paid19901991: 363 claims, $1.5 million paid1992: 120 claims, $610,877 paid1993: 82 claims, $611,730 paid1994: 333 claims, $1.6 million paid1995: 147 claims, $677,546 paid1996: 476 claims, $4.3 million paid1997: 4,087 claims, $79.8 million paid1998: 463 claims, $3.9 million paid1999: 61 claims, $304,010 paid2000: 263 claims, $2.0 million paid20002001: 146 claims, $1.3 million paid2002: 609 claims, $6.8 million paid2003: 885 claims, $9.0 million paid2004: 601 claims, $9.1 million paid2005: 384 claims, $11.5 million paid2006: 552 claims, $10.1 million paid2007: 141 claims, $1.1 million paid2008: 318 claims, $2.8 million paid2009: 909 claims, $17.4 million paid2010: 1,281 claims, $39.0 million paid20102011: 1,007 claims, $19.0 million paid2012: 82 claims, $1.1 million paid2013: 349 claims, $7.1 million paid2014: 154 claims, $2.4 million paid2015: 1,274 claims, $26.0 million paid2016: 142 claims, $1.8 million paid2017: 132 claims, $2.6 million paid2018: 892 claims, $29.4 million paid2019: 264 claims, $5.2 million paid2020: 197 claims, $3.9 million paid20202021: 749 claims, $24.0 million paid2022: 617 claims, $29.3 million paid2023: 109 claims, $2.6 million paid2024: 52 claims, $1.2 million paid2025: 2,171 claims, $112.6 million paid2026: 106 claims, $2.2 million paid
NFIP claims per year by year of loss. Hover or tap a bar for the count and amount paid. 2026 is partial.
Show as a table
YearClaimsPaid
2026106$2.2 million
20252,171$112.6 million
202452$1.2 million
2023109$2.6 million
2022617$29.3 million
2021749$24.0 million
2020197$3.9 million
2019264$5.2 million
2018892$29.4 million
2017132$2.6 million
2016142$1.8 million
20151,274$26.0 million
2014154$2.4 million
2013349$7.1 million
201282$1.1 million
20111,007$19.0 million
20101,281$39.0 million
2009909$17.4 million
2008318$2.8 million
2007141$1.1 million
2006552$10.1 million
2005384$11.5 million
2004601$9.1 million
2003885$9.0 million
2002609$6.8 million
2001146$1.3 million
2000263$2.0 million
199961$304,010
1998463$3.9 million
19974,087$79.8 million
1996476$4.3 million
1995147$677,546
1994333$1.6 million
199382$611,730
1992120$610,877
1991363$1.5 million
1990328$1.8 million
19891,436$10.2 million
198849$200,648
198748$144,830
198622$110,178
198558$191,355
19842,838$28.8 million
1983260$666,925
1982129$356,739
1981377$1.4 million
1980118$383,028
1979672$2.1 million
19781,094$7.7 million

Biggest flood events by NFIP payments

The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for Kentucky, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.

EventYearClaimsPaid
Flooding19973,994$79.3 million
Central U.S. April Flooding20251,100$70.2 million
February Kentucky Flooding2025978$40.0 million
Flooding19842,752$28.5 million
Late July Flooding2022458$25.0 million
Mid-spring storms2011644$13.5 million
Storm2009436$12.7 million
Flooding19891,119$9.2 million
Not a named storm1978912$7.2 million
Heavy rains2004328$6.3 million

Flood history by county

Every Kentucky county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy.

CountyClaimsPaidInsuredFlood declarations
Jefferson County5,557$98.8 million1.2%12
Floyd County2,618$37.3 million3.4%26
Pike County2,480$56.2 million3.5%23
Franklin County1,518$32.0 million1.4%14
Oldham County1,083$27.6 million1.1%7
Christian County978$21.4 million1.3%12
Greenup County713$10.8 million2.1%18
Perry County594$10.0 million1.9%25
Bell County566$7.4 million1.7%13
Woodford County509$17.0 million1.1%14
Hardin County478$9.9 million0.8%13
Boyd County462$7.1 million0.9%19
Martin County462$6.6 million4.9%19
Fayette County457$5.4 million0.4%8
Campbell County450$5.8 million1.2%8
Carter County449$9.0 million1.3%23
Harlan County443$2.4 million2.4%16
Bourbon County395$6.5 million0.9%12
Henderson County380$6.3 million1.4%16
Bullitt County379$6.7 million1.8%14
Daviess County327$3.6 million1.7%11
Johnson County309$5.2 million2.3%27
McCracken County307$8.6 million0.7%10
Rowan County293$5.2 million1.9%18
Clark County288$6.1 million0.7%12
Kenton County286$2.7 million0.3%7
Magoffin County260$2.8 million1.6%26
Breathitt County207$7.6 million1.5%25
Knott County205$6.6 million1.1%26
Letcher County188$7.7 million1.4%20
Mercer County187$5.0 million0.7%10
Pendleton County180$5.3 million1.9%11
Jessamine County179$4.4 million0.5%12
Harrison County141$3.5 million1.4%11
Madison County138$3.5 million0.7%14
McLean County134$2.0 million2.9%13
Powell County125$1.8 million2.0%21
Warren County124$2.4 million0.3%11
Nelson County122$3.4 million0.3%10
Knox County120$892,0710.8%17
Lewis County116$2.0 million0.9%22
Bracken County113$2.0 million1.1%9
Bath County100$1.4 million0.7%14
Graves County80$1.4 million0.3%11
Scott County79$1.9 million0.6%6
Montgomery County75$1.9 million0.2%10
Hopkins County73$1.2 million0.4%16
Owen County73$1.4 million1.0%12
Carroll County70$1.6 million1.7%11
Marshall County68$1.2 million0.6%16
Clay County66$697,0800.7%27
Anderson County59$1.4 million0.4%14
Spencer County56$857,6440.5%20
Leslie County54$362,4640.8%19
Fleming County49$942,8570.2%14
Morgan County49$1.1 million0.4%20
Nicholas County48$1.9 million0.4%19
Ballard County45$585,0150.4%15
Trimble County43$700,0430.7%11
Estill County42$1.1 million0.7%23
Boone County39$372,1210.1%4
Logan County35$499,4830.4%9
Butler County34$606,7070.3%18
Gallatin County33$458,0261.7%9
Lee County33$1.3 million0.6%24
Henry County32$574,5230.5%12
Lawrence County32$467,7070.4%28
Washington County32$945,2470.2%17
Shelby County31$368,5370.2%10
Whitley County30$212,4910.3%18
Pulaski County29$817,7100.0%9
Calloway County28$1.1 million0.4%10
Breckinridge County27$325,1920.2%16
Lincoln County27$377,0750.1%13
Jackson County26$362,2070.2%18
Fulton County25$591,0130.4%12
Casey County24$3.0 million0.1%14
Livingston County24$497,4431.1%16
Simpson County24$915,3520.4%8
Garrard County23$948,0570.3%9
Barren County21$192,5680.1%10
Larue County21$201,8130.2%12
Rockcastle County19$615,7780.2%18
Meade County18$802,5370.2%13
Menifee County17$1.0 million0.8%19
Mason County16$178,3690.1%13
Union County16$358,0610.2%18
Boyle County15$168,6450.8%9
Crittenden County15$369,4610.2%18
Muhlenberg County15$328,7330.2%9
Ohio County15$179,6840.2%19
Hickman County13$6,1520.1%15
Laurel County12$1.1 million0.1%11
Allen County11$596,7230.2%9
Caldwell County11$252,8640.3%16
Hancock County11$52,6681.3%16
Hart County11$222,2840.2%14
Todd County11$139,6700.4%9
Marion County10$136,2820.2%11
Webster County9$248,0590.9%14
Taylor County8$322,1730.2%11
Metcalfe County7$17,3700.2%18
Grayson County6$155,8350.1%17
Owsley County6$64,9610.3%27
Cumberland County4$165,8690.0%12
Carlisle County3$15,3280.3%14
Grant County3$4,5000.1%10
Green County3$205,0820.1%13
Russell County3$103,7120.1%10
Elliott County2$10,0040.2%21
Monroe County2$1,8720.1%10
Adair County1$37,1860.2%11
Clinton County1$134,3350.1%7
Edmonson County1$4360.1%15
McCreary County1$1,5690.0%9
Trigg County1$00.1%14
Wayne County1$3,1070.1%11
Wolfe County1$00.0%21
Lyon County0$00.0%12
Robertson County0$00.1%14

Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in Kentucky

Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.

DeclarationDeclaredEventHelp for individuals
DR-4937-KY Sep 1, 2026 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4875-KY May 23, 2025 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes Yes
DR-4864-KY Apr 24, 2025 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides Yes
EM-3626-KY Apr 3, 2025 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-4860-KY Feb 24, 2025 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides Yes
EM-3624-KY Feb 16, 2025 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides No
DR-4848-KY Nov 26, 2024 Remnants of Hurricane Helene No
DR-4711-KY May 9, 2023 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4702-KY Apr 10, 2023 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4663-KY Jul 29, 2022 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides Yes
DR-4643-KY Feb 27, 2022 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides No
DR-4630-KY Dec 12, 2021 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes Yes
EM-3575-KY Dec 11, 2021 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes No
DR-4595-KY Apr 23, 2021 Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides Yes
DR-4540-KY Apr 24, 2020 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4428-KY Apr 17, 2019 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4361-KY Apr 26, 2018 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4358-KY Apr 12, 2018 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4278-KY Aug 26, 2016 Severe Storm, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4239-KY Aug 12, 2015 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide Yes
DR-4218-KY May 12, 2015 Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4217-KY May 1, 2015 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides Yes
DR-4216-KY Apr 30, 2015 Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4196-KY Sep 30, 2014 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4057-KY Mar 6, 2012 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding Yes

Showing the 25 most recent of 44.

What to do with this

A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.

Where these numbers come from

All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:

FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.