Cumberland County, Kentucky
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Cumberland County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 70% of US counties. It ranks 84th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $5.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $993 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). No 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 Cumberland County
- 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.
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 53.7 | $4M | ||
| Tornado | 38.4 | $475K | ||
| Cold wave | 43.5 | $445K | ||
| Strong wind | 26.6 | $151K | ||
| Hail | 45.5 | $131K | ||
| Earthquake | 38.7 | $84K | ||
| Lightning | 27.5 | $59K | ||
| Heat wave | 22.1 | $44K | ||
| Winter weather | 39.3 | $26K | ||
| Ice storm | 32.7 | $22K | ||
| Hurricane | 35.9 | $13K | ||
| Drought | 26.8 | $10K | ||
| Landslide | 57.7 | $1K | ||
| Wildfire | 6.2 | $1K |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Cumberland County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 22
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 151 storm reports in Cumberland County since 1968, with 0 deaths and 35 injuries and about $1.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1974 | F4 | – | 33 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 1986 | F3 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Feb 5, 2008 | EF3 | Mud Camp | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 9, 2000 | F1 | Burkesville | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 1986 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 1986 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Nov 9, 2000 | Tornado | Burkesville | $150K |
| Jul 13, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $150K |
| May 2, 2010 | Flash Flood | Burkesville | $100K |
| Jul 13, 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Burkesville | $75K |
| Jul 13, 2015 | Tornado | Ashlock | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 19, 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 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Cumberland County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 64 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 51 mi |
| Jun 28, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 16 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 51 mi |
| Jun 28, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 16 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 64 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 Cumberland County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Cumberland County
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; 3,404 housing units.
Compare in Kentucky
All 120 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | Inland flooding | |
| Fayette County | Inland flooding | |
| Kenton County | Inland flooding | |
| Boone County | Inland flooding | |
| Warren County | Inland flooding | |
| Hardin County | Inland flooding | |
| Daviess County | Inland flooding | |
| Campbell County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Adair County | 25 | |
| Russell County | 21 | |
| Monroe County | 20 | |
| Metcalfe County | 30 | |
| Clinton County | 17 | |
| Clay County, TN | 20 |
Common questions about Cumberland County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Cumberland County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cumberland County, about $4.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $475,242.
How many federal disasters has Cumberland County had?
Cumberland County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in September 2026.
Is Cumberland County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 84th 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 Cumberland County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Cumberland County had?
NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Cumberland County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 25 hail reports and 23 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Cumberland County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Cumberland 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.