Home › Kentucky › Fleming County

Fleming County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
80th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$7Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Fleming County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 69% of US counties. It ranks 80th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $6.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $441 per resident. Since 1978 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 18 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $943,000 on 49 claims here.

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

Top risks in Fleming County

$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.
$940,243 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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
$818,354 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow47.1
$4M
TornadoLow54.2
$940K
Strong windModerate78.8
$818K
EarthquakeVery Low49.1
$173K
LightningLow53.0
$172K
Cold waveVery Low21.2
$164K
Heat waveLow39.4
$146K
HailLow41.4
$124K
Winter weatherLow50.1
$42K
Ice stormLow36.6
$30K
HurricaneVery Low37.3
$16K
DroughtVery Low29.5
$16K
WildfireVery Low22.6
$6K
LandslideVery Low53.1
$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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm3
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1
Tropical Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
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
Mar 31, 2021Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslideMajor disaster
May 12, 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, 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
Show all 24
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 19, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jun 10, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud AndMajor disaster
Apr 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 3, 1998Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1964

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 258 storm reports in Fleming County since 1964, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $5.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 16, 1982.

10tornadoes
42hail reports, largest 2 inches
148damaging thunderstorm winds
56floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 16, 1982F2–1 / 0
Jun 15, 1964F2–1 / 0
Sep 14, 1984F1–0 / 0
Apr 26, 2007EF1Sunset0 / 0
Jul 14, 2015EF1Dalesburg0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 23, 2017FloodFlemingsburg Arpt$2M
Feb 18, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Feb 21, 1993Tornado–$500K
Jun 12, 2004Flash FloodFlemingsburg$500K
Jun 16, 1982Tornado–$250K
Sep 14, 1984Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 22, 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 Fleming County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 39 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph39 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph42 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph42 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 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 Fleming County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (18 policies)
7.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$942,857paid on 49 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $326,103 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 Fleming County

$134,700median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
28.5%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; 6,793 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
Rowan CountyLow30
Mason CountyVery Low21
Lewis CountyVery Low32
Bath CountyVery Low27
Nicholas CountyVery Low30
Robertson CountyVery Low22

Common questions about Fleming County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Fleming County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fleming County, about $4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $940,243.

How many federal disasters has Fleming County had?

Fleming County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Fleming County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 80th 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 Fleming County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Fleming 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 Fleming County had?

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Fleming County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 16, 1982. The weather service has also logged 42 hail reports and 56 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Fleming County?

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