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Fulton County, Kentucky

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

Relatively Low overall risk
49th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$10Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Fulton County, Kentucky has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 53% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $9.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,472 per resident. Since 1973 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 14 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $591,000 on 25 claims here.

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

Top risks in Fulton County

Earthquake

Moderate
$4.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 60 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.
$815,399 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate91.9
$5M
Inland floodingVery Low19.2
$1M
TornadoLow50.3
$815K
DroughtModerate84.0
$766K
Ice stormHigh88.9
$534K
Strong windModerate55.7
$419K
Cold waveLow37.2
$381K
Heat waveLow51.2
$256K
LightningLow32.3
$77K
HailVery Low20.4
$47K
Winter weatherLow44.9
$35K
HurricaneVery Low34.6
$13K
WildfireVery Low4.8
$1K
LandslideVery Low43.8
$565

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 Fulton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood5
Tornado3
Snowstorm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane1

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 16, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesEmergency
Jul 23, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 11, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and TornadoesEmergency
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 26, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 12, 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 24
May 4, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 9, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
May 19, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record SnowMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Jun 13, 1995Tornadoes, Severe Winds, HailMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 29, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 231 storm reports in Fulton County since 1959, with 2 deaths and 11 injuries and about $7.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on December 10, 2021 near State Line.

15tornadoes
48hail reports, largest 3 inches
93damaging thunderstorm winds
68floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 10, 2021EF4State Line5 / 1
Mar 9, 2017EF2Hickman0 / 0
May 4, 2021EF2Jordan0 / 0
Apr 19, 1973F2–0 / 0
Mar 9, 2017EF1Sassafras Ridge0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 4, 2023Flash FloodCayce$2M
May 1, 2011FloodHickman$1M
Mar 9, 2017TornadoHickman$1M
Sep 23, 2006Flash FloodCountywide$800K
May 4, 2021TornadoJordan$310K
Mar 1, 1997Flash FloodFulton$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 16, 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 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Fulton County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 64 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1888most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 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 Fulton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (14 policies)
9.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$591,013paid on 25 flood claims since 1978
2023costliest year, with $271,168 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 Fulton County

$79,100median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
66%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.7%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; 3,158 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
Obion County, TNModerate20
New Madrid County, MOLow26
Mississippi County, MOLow23
Lake County, TNLow20
Hickman CountyVery Low26

Common questions about Fulton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Fulton County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Fulton County, about $4.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Fulton County had?

Fulton County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Fulton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 49th 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 Fulton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Fulton 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 Fulton County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Fulton County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on December 10, 2021 near State Line. The weather service has also logged 48 hail reports and 68 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Fulton County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Fulton County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 60 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.