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Breckinridge County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
62nd of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$12Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Breckinridge 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 62nd of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $574 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 22 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $325,000 on 27 claims here.

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

Top risks in Breckinridge County

$6.1 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.
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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
$836,115 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow49.0
$6M
TornadoLow62.8
$2M
Strong windModerate66.6
$836K
HailModerate78.8
$788K
EarthquakeLow67.8
$671K
Cold waveLow38.0
$583K
Ice stormModerate77.4
$323K
Heat waveLow47.2
$313K
LightningLow28.0
$96K
Winter weatherLow45.2
$52K
DroughtLow37.7
$52K
HurricaneVery Low30.8
$14K
WildfireVery Low10.5
$3K
LandslideVery Low50.4
$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 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 Breckinridge County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm15
Tornado5
Snowstorm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

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 24, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 16, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesEmergency
Jul 23, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 10, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 11, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and TornadoesEmergency
May 4, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 26
May 11, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 9, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record SnowMajor disaster
Aug 6, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
May 7, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2000Tornadoes, Severe Storms, Torrential Rains, and Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Jun 13, 1995Tornadoes, Severe Winds, HailMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1970

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 355 storm reports in Breckinridge County since 1970, with 2 deaths and 22 injuries and about $5.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974.

25tornadoes
80hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
210damaging thunderstorm winds
38floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F5–13 / 0
Apr 28, 2002F2Cloverport7 / 1
May 18, 1995F2New Bethel0 / 0
Oct 18, 2007EF2Rosetta0 / 0
Mar 2, 2012EF2Cloverport0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$3M
Apr 28, 2002TornadoCloverport$750K
May 18, 1995TornadoNew Bethel$500K
Oct 18, 2007TornadoRosetta$300K
Aug 31, 2018LightningMc Daniels$200K
Mar 9, 2006Thunderstorm WindCountywide$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Breckinridge County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1888most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph59 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 Breckinridge County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (22 policies)
5.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$325,192paid on 27 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $161,133 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 Breckinridge County

$156,700median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
38%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
27.7%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; 10,799 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
Hardin CountyLow25
Meade CountyVery Low23
Grayson CountyLow28
Ohio CountyLow28
Perry County, INVery Low21
Hancock CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Breckinridge County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Breckinridge County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Breckinridge County, about $6.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Breckinridge County had?

Breckinridge County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Breckinridge County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 62nd 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 Breckinridge County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Breckinridge 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 Breckinridge County had?

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Breckinridge County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 80 hail reports and 38 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Breckinridge County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Breckinridge 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.