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Grant County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
106th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$7Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Grant County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 84% of US counties. It ranks 106th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $6.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $276 per resident. Since 1996 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 12 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 Grant County

$2.3 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.
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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
$756,522 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low17.1
$2M
TornadoLow64.4
$2M
Strong windModerate58.2
$757K
Cold waveLow37.7
$653K
LightningModerate60.4
$372K
Heat waveLow43.0
$288K
EarthquakeVery Low39.4
$161K
Ice stormLow36.3
$48K
HailVery Low11.0
$39K
Winter weatherVery Low24.4
$24K
WildfireVery Low7.2
$2K
DroughtVery Low17.6
$2K
LandslideVery Low56.5
$2K
HurricaneVery Low7.8
$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 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 Grant County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Snowstorm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Flood2
Hurricane1
Winter 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
Apr 10, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
Mar 6, 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record SnowMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud AndMajor disaster
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 1968

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 222 storm reports in Grant County since 1968, with 1 death and 1 injury and about $3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on March 2, 2012 near Crittenden.

9tornadoes
40hail reports, largest 2 inches
131damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 2, 2012EF3Crittenden0 / 0
Sep 26, 1976F1–0 / 1
Jun 18, 2026EF1Delia0 / 0
Jul 21, 2026EF1Lawrenceville0 / 0
Apr 8, 2020EF1Jericho0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 1, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Mar 2, 2012TornadoCrittenden$500K
Sep 26, 1976Tornado–$250K
Jun 18, 2026TornadoDelia$250K
Jan 12, 2023TornadoDry Ridge$150K
Jul 21, 2026TornadoLawrenceville$60K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 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 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Grant County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 49 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph49 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph49 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 Grant County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (12 policies)
15.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4,500paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
1980costliest year, with $4,500 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 Grant County

$209,500median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
35%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
21.9%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; 10,245 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
Kenton CountyLow13
Boone CountyLow11
Scott CountyLow13
Harrison CountyVery Low22
Pendleton CountyVery Low20
Owen CountyVery Low21
Gallatin CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Grant County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Grant County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Grant County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Grant County had?

Grant County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1996, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Grant County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 106th 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 Grant County?

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

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Grant County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on March 2, 2012 near Crittenden. The weather service has also logged 40 hail reports and 39 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Grant County?

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