Ballard County, Kentucky
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Ballard County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 60% of US counties. It ranks 61st of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, drought and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,420 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 18 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $582,000 on 45 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Ballard County
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 88.9 | $4M | ||
| Drought | 96.4 | $3M | ||
| Inland flooding | 12.2 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 41.1 | $610K | ||
| Strong wind | 56.5 | $585K | ||
| Tornado | 31.7 | $503K | ||
| Ice storm | 82.9 | $456K | ||
| Heat wave | 50.6 | $342K | ||
| Lightning | 21.2 | $65K | ||
| Hail | 20.3 | $64K | ||
| Winter weather | 39.3 | $40K | ||
| Hurricane | 29.6 | $12K | ||
| Wildfire | 6.0 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 40.2 | $593 |
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 relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Ballard County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 26
Kentucky also had 4 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 310 storm reports in Ballard County since 1958, with 1 death and 17 injuries and about $9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 12, 1958.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 1958 | F3 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Apr 4, 2011 | EF2 | Slater | 1 / 0 |
| Mar 14, 2019 | EF2 | Gage | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 29, 2012 | EF2 | Oscar | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 2003 | F2 | Wickliffe | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2019 | Flood | East Cairo | $1M |
| May 1, 2011 | Flood | Wickliffe | $1M |
| Jan 3, 2000 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $800K |
| Apr 4, 2011 | Tornado | Slater | $700K |
| Jul 19, 2023 | Flash Flood | Kevil | $700K |
| May 1, 2011 | Flood | Oscar | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 16, 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.
Flood insurance in Ballard County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Ballard County
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; 3,702 housing units.
Compare in Kentucky
All 120 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | Inland flooding | |
| Fayette County | Inland flooding | |
| Kenton County | Inland flooding | |
| Boone County | Inland flooding | |
| Warren County | Inland flooding | |
| Hardin County | Inland flooding | |
| Daviess County | Inland flooding | |
| Campbell County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| McCracken County | 21 | |
| Mississippi County, MO | 23 | |
| Alexander County, IL | 15 | |
| Pulaski County, IL | 12 | |
| Carlisle County | 25 |
Common questions about Ballard County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Ballard County?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Ballard County, about $4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $2.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Ballard County had?
Ballard County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Ballard County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 61st 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 Ballard County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Ballard 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 Ballard County had?
NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Ballard County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 12, 1958. The weather service has also logged 58 hail reports and 83 floods here.
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.