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Edmonson County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
116th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$5Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Edmonson County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 89% of US counties. It ranks 116th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $5.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $450 per resident. Since 1989 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). 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 Edmonson County

$2.4 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.
$965,564 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Hail

Moderate
$846,866 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low18.6
$2M
TornadoLow40.9
$966K
HailModerate78.0
$847K
Strong windLow38.1
$419K
Cold waveVery Low21.3
$270K
EarthquakeVery Low43.4
$204K
Heat waveVery Low28.5
$132K
Ice stormLow49.6
$90K
LightningVery Low20.3
$75K
Winter weatherVery Low18.0
$17K
DroughtVery Low26.1
$16K
HurricaneVery Low16.3
$4K
WildfireVery Low3.5
$1K
LandslideVery Low40.0
$706

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 Edmonson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm14
Snowstorm4
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

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 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
Apr 23, 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2016Severe Storm, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 24
Apr 30, 2015Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Aug 6, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 7, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 16, 1994Severe Weather, Freezing Rain, Sleet, SnwMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1963

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 223 storm reports in Edmonson County since 1963, with 1 death and 7 injuries and about $1.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 23, 1968.

10tornadoes
37hail reports, largest 2 inches
130damaging thunderstorm winds
46floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 23, 1968F4–2 / 0
Apr 29, 1963F2–0 / 0
Apr 25, 2015EF2Huff0 / 0
Apr 28, 2002F1Broadway0 / 0
Jan 30, 2013EF1Rocky Hill0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 28, 2002TornadoBroadway$100K
May 30, 2004Thunderstorm WindBrownsville$100K
May 2, 2010FloodBrownsville$100K
Apr 3, 2018Thunderstorm WindBee Spg$100K
Jan 30, 2013TornadoRocky Hill$80K
Feb 24, 2018Thunderstorm WindChalybeate$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 27, 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 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Edmonson County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 39 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1957most recent: Audrey

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph39 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph39 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 Edmonson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
2.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$436paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
1978costliest year, with $436 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 Edmonson County

$160,300median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
33%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
33.8%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; 6,449 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
Warren CountyModerate24
Barren CountyLow20
Grayson CountyLow28
Hart CountyVery Low25
Butler CountyVery Low28

Common questions about Edmonson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Edmonson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Edmonson County, about $2.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $965,564.

How many federal disasters has Edmonson County had?

Edmonson County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1989, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Edmonson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 116th 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 Edmonson County?

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

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Edmonson County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 23, 1968. The weather service has also logged 37 hail reports and 46 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Edmonson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Edmonson 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.