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Cumberland County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
84th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$6Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$4.4 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.
$475,242 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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.
$445,260 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 floodingLow53.7
$4M
TornadoLow38.4
$475K
Cold waveLow43.5
$445K
Strong windLow26.6
$151K
HailLow45.5
$131K
EarthquakeVery Low38.7
$84K
LightningLow27.5
$59K
Heat waveVery Low22.1
$44K
Winter weatherLow39.3
$26K
Ice stormLow32.7
$22K
HurricaneVery Low35.9
$13K
DroughtVery Low26.8
$10K
LandslideVery Low57.7
$1K
WildfireVery Low6.2
$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

Severe Storm11
Flood3
Snowstorm3
Tornado2
Winter Storm2
Hurricane1

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 24, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
Jul 29, 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 22
Apr 23, 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslideMajor disaster
May 11, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Aug 6, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor 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
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 15, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor 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 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.

12tornadoes
25hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
86damaging thunderstorm winds
23floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–33 / 0
Apr 20, 1986F3–2 / 0
Feb 5, 2008EF3Mud Camp0 / 0
Nov 9, 2000F1Burkesville0 / 0
Apr 20, 1986F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 20, 1986Tornado–$250K
Nov 9, 2000TornadoBurkesville$150K
Jul 13, 2004Thunderstorm WindCountywide$150K
May 2, 2010Flash FloodBurkesville$100K
Jul 13, 2015Thunderstorm WindBurkesville$75K
Jul 13, 2015TornadoAshlock$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.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph51 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph16 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph51 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph16 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph64 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 ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$165,869paid on 4 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $109,091 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 Cumberland County

$141,100median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
21%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; 3,404 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
Adair CountyVery Low25
Russell CountyVery Low21
Monroe CountyVery Low20
Metcalfe CountyVery Low30
Clinton CountyVery Low17
Clay County, TNVery Low20

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.