Home › Kentucky › Calloway County

Calloway County, Kentucky

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

Relatively Low overall risk
13th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$29Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Calloway County, Kentucky has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 75% of US counties. It ranks 13th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $29 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $777 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (57 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 28 claims here, including $476,000 for floods in 2021.

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

Top risks in Calloway County

Earthquake

Moderate
$13.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 110 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$5.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times 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
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate95.4
$13M
Inland floodingLow50.7
$6M
TornadoModerate79.3
$3M
Cold waveModerate78.8
$3M
Heat waveLow73.5
$893K
Ice stormHigh91.1
$857K
Strong windModerate63.7
$673K
LightningModerate75.1
$501K
DroughtModerate66.0
$343K
HailLow62.2
$342K
Winter weatherModerate81.4
$187K
HurricaneVery Low39.4
$23K
WildfireVery Low18.6
$6K
LandslideLow65.7
$3K

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 high 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 Calloway County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm2
Snowstorm1
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 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
Apr 23, 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2016Severe Storm, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 12, 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 4, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 18
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 3, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 29, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1963

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 459 storm reports in Calloway County since 1963, with 3 deaths and 44 injuries and about $18.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1968.

43tornadoes
106hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
193damaging thunderstorm winds
88floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1968F4–15 / 1
Mar 4, 1964F4–8 / 0
Nov 24, 2001F2Hazel4 / 0
May 4, 2003F2Murray0 / 0
May 26, 2000F2Midway4 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 28, 2021Flash FloodPottertown$3M
Apr 3, 1968Tornado–$3M
Apr 25, 2011Thunderstorm WindMurray$2M
Nov 24, 2001TornadoHazel$830K
Feb 24, 2018TornadoMurray$550K
Jun 30, 2009Thunderstorm WindMurray$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.

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 Calloway County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 50 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph50 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph50 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 Calloway County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (57 policies)
27.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 28 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $475,796 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 Calloway County

$183,200median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.2%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; 18,106 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
Graves CountyModerate20
Henry County, TNModerate19
Marshall CountyLow27
Trigg CountyLow24
Stewart County, TNVery Low21

Common questions about Calloway County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Calloway County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Calloway County, about $13.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $5.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Calloway County had?

Calloway County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Calloway County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 13th 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 Calloway County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Calloway 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 Calloway County had?

NOAA records list 43 tornadoes in Calloway County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1968. The weather service has also logged 106 hail reports and 88 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Calloway County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Calloway County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 60 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.