Fulton County, Kentucky
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 91.9 | $5M | ||
| Inland flooding | 19.2 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 50.3 | $815K | ||
| Drought | 84.0 | $766K | ||
| Ice storm | 88.9 | $534K | ||
| Strong wind | 55.7 | $419K | ||
| Cold wave | 37.2 | $381K | ||
| Heat wave | 51.2 | $256K | ||
| Lightning | 32.3 | $77K | ||
| Hail | 20.4 | $47K | ||
| Winter weather | 44.9 | $35K | ||
| Hurricane | 34.6 | $13K | ||
| Wildfire | 4.8 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 43.8 | $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
Most recent
Show all 24
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 2021 | EF4 | State Line | 5 / 1 |
| Mar 9, 2017 | EF2 | Hickman | 0 / 0 |
| May 4, 2021 | EF2 | Jordan | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 1973 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 9, 2017 | EF1 | Sassafras Ridge | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2023 | Flash Flood | Cayce | $2M |
| May 1, 2011 | Flood | Hickman | $1M |
| Mar 9, 2017 | Tornado | Hickman | $1M |
| Sep 23, 2006 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $800K |
| May 4, 2021 | Tornado | Jordan | $310K |
| Mar 1, 1997 | Flash Flood | Fulton | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 64 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 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 Fulton 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 Fulton 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; 3,158 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Obion County, TN | 20 | |
| New Madrid County, MO | 26 | |
| Mississippi County, MO | 23 | |
| Lake County, TN | 20 | |
| Hickman County | 26 |
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.