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Gallatin County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
104th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$6Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 59homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Gallatin County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 104th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $5.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $656 per resident. Since 1996 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 59 homes here carry federal flood insurance (53 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $458,000 on 33 claims here.

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

Top risks in Gallatin County

$3.4 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.
$956,336 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 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
$838,459 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low33.9
$3M
TornadoLow46.7
$956K
Strong windModerate69.8
$838K
Cold waveLow24.7
$276K
LightningLow28.9
$90K
Heat waveVery Low18.7
$48K
EarthquakeVery Low23.1
$32K
Ice stormVery Low26.5
$22K
HailVery Low6.6
$17K
Winter weatherVery Low9.9
$7K
DroughtVery Low19.8
$3K
WildfireVery Low2.0
$655
HurricaneVery Low7.2
$404
LandslideVery Low34.6
$383

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 moderate 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 Gallatin County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Severe Ice Storm2
Flood2
Snowstorm1
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 16, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesEmergency
Apr 10, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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
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 15
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 9, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 165 storm reports in Gallatin County since 1957, with 3 deaths and 22 injuries and about $1.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on July 21, 2026 near Carson.

4tornadoes
17hail reports, largest 3 inches
95damaging thunderstorm winds
48floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 21, 2026EF1Carson0 / 0
May 8, 1996F1Warsaw7 / 0
Jul 7, 2014EF0Ethridge0 / 0
Apr 8, 2020EF0Warsaw0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 10, 2002Thunderstorm WindWarsaw$375K
Jul 7, 2014TornadoEthridge$150K
Mar 1, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$100K
Aug 29, 2022Flash FloodNapoleon$100K
Jul 21, 1994Thunderstorm Wind–$50K
Mar 1, 2017Thunderstorm WindSugar Bay$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 Gallatin County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 53 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph53 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph53 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 Gallatin County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (53 policies)
24.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$458,026paid on 33 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $277,831 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 Gallatin County

$178,200median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1993median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
29%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
25.3%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; 3,816 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
Boone CountyLow11
Grant CountyVery Low16
Owen CountyVery Low21
Carroll CountyVery Low20
Switzerland County, INVery Low20

Common questions about Gallatin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Gallatin County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Gallatin County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $956,336.

How many federal disasters has Gallatin County had?

Gallatin County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1996, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Gallatin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 104th 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 Gallatin County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 59 homes in Gallatin 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 Gallatin County had?

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Gallatin County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on July 21, 2026 near Carson. The weather service has also logged 17 hail reports and 48 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Gallatin County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Gallatin 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.