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Harrison County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
74th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$10Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 71homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Harrison County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 74th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $9.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $510 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 71 homes here carry federal flood insurance (86 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.5 million on 141 claims here, including $2.8 million for floods in 1997.

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

Top risks in Harrison County

$5.6 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.
$1.8 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
$928,907 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 floodingLow48.9
$6M
TornadoLow63.3
$2M
Strong windModerate72.9
$929K
EarthquakeVery Low56.1
$334K
Cold waveLow26.4
$309K
LightningLow53.6
$235K
Heat waveVery Low31.8
$133K
Ice stormLow50.7
$77K
HailVery Low21.5
$68K
Winter weatherLow43.6
$46K
HurricaneVery Low33.0
$16K
DroughtVery Low24.4
$10K
WildfireVery Low9.8
$3K
LandslideVery Low47.1
$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 relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood3
Snowstorm3
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1
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
Nov 26, 2024Remnants of Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Apr 10, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 12, 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 11, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 22
Feb 21, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
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
Aug 15, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor 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
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor 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 194 storm reports in Harrison County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 31 injuries and about $4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1974.

9tornadoes
21hail reports, largest 3 inches
118damaging thunderstorm winds
44floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F3–27 / 0
Feb 6, 2008EF2Broadwell1 / 0
Jun 29, 1979F2–0 / 0
Oct 7, 2014EF1Cynthiana0 / 0
Dec 21, 2013EF1Breckinridge0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 20, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Jun 28, 2005LightningKelat$750K
Feb 6, 2008TornadoBroadwell$700K
Mar 1, 2017Thunderstorm WindOddville$300K
Oct 7, 2014TornadoCynthiana$250K
Mar 1, 2017Thunderstorm WindPoindexter$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 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 Harrison County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 47 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph47 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph47 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 Harrison County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (86 policies)
27.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.5 millionpaid on 141 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $2.8 million 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 Harrison County

$202,100median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
47%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.3%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; 8,186 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
Scott CountyLow13
Grant CountyVery Low16
Bourbon CountyVery Low20
Pendleton CountyVery Low20
Bracken CountyVery Low16
Nicholas CountyVery Low30
Robertson CountyVery Low22

Common questions about Harrison County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Harrison County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Harrison County, about $5.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Harrison County had?

Harrison County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Harrison County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 74th 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 Harrison County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in Harrison 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 Harrison County had?

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Harrison County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 21 hail reports and 44 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Harrison County?

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