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Anderson County, Kentucky

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
93rd of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$11Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Anderson County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 93rd of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $448 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 41 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.4 million on 59 claims here, including $788,000 for floods in 2025.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Anderson County

$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low34.4
$5M
TornadoLow64.2
$3M
Strong windModerate67.8
$1M
Cold waveLow33.6
$606K
Ice stormModerate81.2
$549K
EarthquakeVery Low49.5
$326K
HailLow42.1
$234K
LightningLow42.9
$219K
Heat waveVery Low25.7
$126K
Winter weatherLow52.1
$84K
HurricaneVery Low18.6
$6K
WildfireVery Low8.0
$3K
DroughtVery Low17.7
$3K
LandslideVery Low44.2
$1K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Anderson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood4
Snowstorm3
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 24, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 3, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Feb 16, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesEmergency
Nov 26, 2024Remnants of Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Apr 10, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 12, 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2015Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 4, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 23
May 11, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 19, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jun 3, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud AndMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 16, 1994Severe Weather, Freezing Rain, Sleet, SnwMajor disaster
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

Kentucky also had 4 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 201 storm reports in Anderson County since 1965, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.

9tornadoes
42hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
115damaging thunderstorm winds
33floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–0 / 0
Nov 26, 1965F2–8 / 0
May 28, 1996F2Fox Creek1 / 0
Mar 29, 1974F2–2 / 0
Jun 30, 1977F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 26, 1965Tornado–$3M
May 28, 1996TornadoFox Creek$1M
Jul 20, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Feb 21, 1993Thunderstorm Wind–$500K
May 18, 1993Hail–$500K
May 18, 1993Thunderstorm Wind–$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1888, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Anderson County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1957most recent: Audrey

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph62 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph50 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph50 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph62 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Anderson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (41 policies)
18.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.4 millionpaid on 59 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $787,596 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Anderson County

$225,100median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1989median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
32%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.6%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 10,326 housing units.

Compare in Kentucky

All 120 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Jefferson CountyHighInland flooding
Fayette CountyModerateInland flooding
Kenton CountyLowInland flooding
Boone CountyLowInland flooding
Warren CountyModerateInland flooding
Hardin CountyLowInland flooding
Daviess CountyModerateInland flooding
Campbell CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Franklin CountyLow25
Shelby CountyLow18
Nelson CountyLow22
Woodford CountyVery Low23
Mercer CountyVery Low24
Spencer CountyVery Low28
Washington CountyVery Low27

Common questions about Anderson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Anderson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Anderson County, about $4.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Anderson County had?

Anderson County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Anderson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 93rd highest of 120 in Kentucky. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Anderson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Anderson County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Anderson County had?

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Anderson County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 42 hail reports and 33 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Anderson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Anderson County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 55 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.