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Clark County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
68th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$14Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clark County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 62% of US counties. It ranks 68th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $369 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (106 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.1 million on 288 claims here, including $2.2 million 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 Clark County

$6.9 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
$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 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
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow47.3
$7M
TornadoModerate68.0
$3M
Strong windModerate80.0
$1M
Cold waveLow44.2
$878K
EarthquakeVery Low59.4
$500K
LightningLow55.6
$324K
Heat waveLow43.6
$310K
HailLow47.3
$268K
Winter weatherModerate65.9
$127K
Ice stormLow48.9
$93K
HurricaneVery Low33.5
$21K
DroughtVery Low22.5
$8K
WildfireVery Low14.3
$6K
LandslideVery Low40.6
$778

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood4
Snowstorm4
Severe Ice Storm3
Tornado2
Hurricane1

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
Nov 26, 2024Remnants of Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Apr 10, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 31, 2021Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 1, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2015Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 25
May 11, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jun 10, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud AndMajor disaster
Mar 3, 1998Severe Winter StormMajor 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
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 198 storm reports in Clark County since 1961, with 0 deaths and 17 injuries and about $53.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.

7tornadoes
20hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
131damaging thunderstorm winds
37floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–8 / 0
Jun 16, 1982F2–4 / 0
Mar 16, 1982F2–1 / 0
Apr 2, 2024EF1Becknerville0 / 0
Apr 2, 2024EF1Renick0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 18, 1995Thunderstorm WindWinchester$50M
Jul 20, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Apr 2, 2015Thunderstorm WindWinchester$1M
Jun 16, 1982Tornado–$250K
Mar 16, 1982Tornado–$250K
Feb 6, 2008TornadoWades Mill$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 29, 2025. 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 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Clark County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 47 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph47 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph37 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph40 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph40 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph37 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph47 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 Clark County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (106 policies)
26.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.1 millionpaid on 288 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $2.2 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 Clark County

$205,800median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
52%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.5%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; 16,418 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
Fayette CountyModerate19
Madison CountyLow26
Montgomery CountyVery Low22
Bourbon CountyVery Low20
Estill CountyVery Low36
Powell CountyVery Low33

Common questions about Clark County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clark County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clark County, about $6.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Clark County had?

Clark County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Clark County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 68th 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 Clark County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Clark 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 Clark County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Clark County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 20 hail reports and 37 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Clark County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Clark County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 50 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.