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Clinton County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
95th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$6Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clinton County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 76% of US counties. It ranks 95th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $5.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $613 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Clinton County

$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$742,627 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.
$688,296 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 floodingLow41.0
$3M
TornadoLow46.2
$743K
Cold waveLow51.6
$688K
Strong windLow39.4
$279K
HailLow48.8
$170K
LightningLow39.6
$108K
EarthquakeVery Low36.2
$81K
Heat waveVery Low23.7
$60K
Winter weatherLow52.0
$47K
HurricaneVery Low45.5
$32K
Ice stormLow36.8
$31K
WildfireVery Low33.4
$12K
DroughtVery Low23.4
$6K
LandslideVery Low39.4
$428

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Snowstorm3
Winter Storm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 29, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 23, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor 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
Mar 31, 2021Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 11, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 17
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Aug 6, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 3, 1998Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 16, 1994Severe Weather, Freezing Rain, Sleet, SnwMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1968

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 178 storm reports in Clinton County since 1968, with 9 deaths and 68 injuries and about $1.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.

18tornadoes
28hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
113damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–63 / 8
Apr 11, 2008EF2Narvel0 / 0
Apr 11, 2008EF2Cartwright0 / 0
Jan 4, 1997F1Albany2 / 1
Apr 11, 2008EF1Browns Xrds0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 26, 1994Thunderstorm Wind–$500K
Apr 11, 2008TornadoNarvel$200K
Apr 11, 2008Thunderstorm WindCumberland City$200K
May 2, 2010Flash FloodWago$100K
Aug 8, 2000LightningCentral Portion$80K
Apr 11, 2008TornadoCartwright$75K

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 1957, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Clinton County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with top winds near 45 mph about 55 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph18 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph18 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 Clinton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
7.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$134,335paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $134,335 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 Clinton County

$122,200median 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
24.3%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; 4,850 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
Wayne CountyLow24
Russell CountyVery Low21
Clay County, TNVery Low20
Cumberland CountyVery Low22
Pickett County, TNVery Low19

Common questions about Clinton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clinton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clinton County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $742,627.

How many federal disasters has Clinton County had?

Clinton County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in September 2026.

Is Clinton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 95th 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 Clinton County?

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

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Clinton County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 28 hail reports and 18 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Clinton County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Clinton County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with winds near 45 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.