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Bullitt County, Kentucky

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

Relatively Low overall risk
21st of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$46Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 56homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Bullitt County, Kentucky has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 72% of US counties. It ranks 21st of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $46 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $554 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 56 homes here carry federal flood insurance (575 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.7 million on 379 claims here, including $3.2 million for floods in 1997.

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

Top risks in Bullitt County

$23.3 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$9.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate74.1
$23M
TornadoModerate88.6
$10M
Cold waveModerate80.0
$6M
Strong windHigh92.2
$4M
EarthquakeLow70.6
$1M
LightningModerate70.0
$751K
Heat waveLow51.7
$610K
Ice stormModerate67.1
$280K
HailLow40.7
$275K
Winter weatherModerate70.8
$201K
WildfireVery Low26.8
$18K
HurricaneVery Low13.4
$5K
DroughtVery Low17.2
$3K
LandslideVery Low30.4
$477

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 Bullitt County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood7
Tornado3
Severe Ice Storm2
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
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
Apr 26, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 26
May 12, 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 1, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor 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
Jun 10, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 1, 1996Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
May 15, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 5, 1970Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 324 storm reports in Bullitt County since 1960, with 2 deaths and 25 injuries and about $103 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 28, 1996 near Brooks.

13tornadoes
50hail reports, largest 3 inches
203damaging thunderstorm winds
53floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 28, 1996F4Brooks10 / 0
May 10, 1969F3–14 / 0
Apr 20, 1996F1Mt Washington0 / 0
May 18, 1995F1Shepardsville0 / 0
Oct 18, 2007EF1Hubers0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 28, 1996TornadoBrooks$100M
Apr 3, 2015Flash FloodBarrallton$1M
Apr 20, 1996TornadoMt Washington$300K
Feb 22, 2018FloodStibbins$275K
May 10, 1969Tornado–$250K
Feb 24, 2018Flash FloodStibbins$102K

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 Bullitt County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 63 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 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 Bullitt County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (575 policies)
22.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.7 millionpaid on 379 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $3.2 million 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 Bullitt County

$247,200median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1993median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
32%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.4%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; 33,608 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
Jefferson CountyHigh22
Hardin CountyLow25
Nelson CountyLow22
Spencer CountyVery Low28

Common questions about Bullitt County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Bullitt County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Bullitt County, about $23.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $9.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Bullitt County had?

Bullitt County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in September 2026.

Is Bullitt County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 21st 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 Bullitt County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 56 homes in Bullitt 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 Bullitt County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Bullitt County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 28, 1996 near Brooks. The weather service has also logged 50 hail reports and 53 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Bullitt County?

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