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Christian County, Kentucky

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

Relatively Low overall risk
9th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$42Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 77homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Christian County, Kentucky has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 80% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $42 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $575 per resident. Since 1975 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). About 1 in 77 homes here carry federal flood insurance (327 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $21 million on 978 claims here, including $7.3 million for floods in 2005.

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

Top risks in Christian County

$16.1 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$10.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 175 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$8 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate74.9
$16M
EarthquakeModerate93.7
$11M
TornadoHigh91.2
$8M
Cold waveLow64.9
$2M
Heat waveLow76.2
$1M
Strong windModerate69.1
$961K
DroughtModerate79.0
$881K
LightningModerate80.5
$742K
Ice stormHigh85.6
$635K
HailLow71.4
$601K
Winter weatherModerate78.6
$196K
HurricaneVery Low34.4
$20K
WildfireVery Low14.5
$5K
LandslideVery Low27.0
$233

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 low and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood2
Snowstorm2
Tornado2
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 23, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
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
Feb 27, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, LandslidesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2016Severe Storm, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 23
May 4, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 21, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jun 10, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Jun 13, 1995Tornadoes, Severe Winds, HailMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1994Severe Weather, Freezing Rain, Sleet, SnwMajor disaster
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 29, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 619 storm reports in Christian County since 1956, with 1 death and 93 injuries and about $107 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 4, 1968.

57tornadoes
139hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
284damaging thunderstorm winds
105floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 4, 1968F4–5 / 0
Apr 2, 2006F3Gracey22 / 0
May 12, 1978F3–17 / 0
Apr 26, 2011EF3Ft Campbell Aaf0 / 0
Apr 29, 1963F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 1, 1997Flash FloodHopkinsville$40M
Apr 2, 2006TornadoGracey$35M
Feb 24, 2018TornadoHopkinsville$6M
Feb 5, 2008TornadoSinking Fork$4M
May 12, 1978Tornado–$3M
Apr 4, 2011TornadoHopkinsville$2M

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

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 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 Christian County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (327 policies)
45.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$21.3 millionpaid on 978 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $7.3 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 Christian County

$173,600median 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
8.3%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; 29,362 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
Montgomery County, TNModerate20
Hopkins CountyLow28
Muhlenberg CountyLow22
Trigg CountyLow24
Stewart County, TNVery Low21
Caldwell CountyVery Low25
Todd CountyVery Low18

Cities in Christian County

Common questions about Christian County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Christian County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Christian County, about $16.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $10.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Christian County had?

Christian County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Christian County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 9th 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 Christian County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 77 homes in Christian 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 Christian County had?

NOAA records list 57 tornadoes in Christian County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 4, 1968. The weather service has also logged 139 hail reports and 105 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Christian County?

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