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Hart County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
56th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$10Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Hart County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 59% of US counties. It ranks 56th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $9.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $503 per resident. Since 1989 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 20 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $222,000 on 11 claims here.

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

Top risks in Hart County

$5 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.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.

Hail

Moderate
$868,373 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow49.7
$5M
TornadoLow63.8
$2M
HailModerate84.6
$868K
Cold waveLow49.2
$693K
Strong windModerate66.1
$653K
EarthquakeLow63.5
$416K
Heat waveLow40.8
$179K
Ice stormModerate67.4
$144K
LightningLow40.6
$124K
Winter weatherLow43.4
$39K
DroughtLow33.9
$28K
HurricaneVery Low38.5
$20K
WildfireVery Low10.9
$3K
LandslideVery Low45.8
$775

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 high 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 Hart County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm13
Snowstorm4
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane1
Tornado1

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 24, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 16, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesEmergency
Jul 23, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 9, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 10, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2016Severe Storm, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 25
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
Feb 21, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record SnowMajor disaster
Aug 6, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 16, 1994Severe Weather, Freezing Rain, Sleet, SnwMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor 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 302 storm reports in Hart County since 1968, with 3 deaths and 27 injuries and about $7.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 28, 1997 near Bonnieville.

20tornadoes
68hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
170damaging thunderstorm winds
42floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 28, 1997F3Bonnieville14 / 1
Nov 6, 2005F2Munfordville0 / 0
Dec 11, 2021EF2Rowletts1 / 0
Feb 5, 2008EF1Lone Star0 / 0
Jul 20, 2018EF1Lone Star0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 6, 2005TornadoMunfordville$2M
Oct 18, 2007Thunderstorm WindHorse Cave$2M
Mar 28, 1997TornadoBonnieville$1M
Feb 5, 2008TornadoLone Star$500K
Mar 2, 2012Thunderstorm WindBonnieville$200K
Jul 20, 2018TornadoLone Star$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 26, 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 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Hart County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 58 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1957most recent: Audrey

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph58 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph42 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph42 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph58 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 Hart County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (20 policies)
8.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$222,284paid on 11 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $157,139 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 Hart County

$146,000median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.2%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; 8,929 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
Hardin CountyLow25
Barren CountyLow20
Grayson CountyLow28
Larue CountyVery Low23
Edmonson CountyVery Low24
Green CountyVery Low25
Metcalfe CountyVery Low30

Common questions about Hart County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hart County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hart County, about $5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Hart County had?

Hart County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1989, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Hart County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 56th 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 Hart County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Hart 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 Hart County had?

NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Hart County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 28, 1997 near Bonnieville. The weather service has also logged 68 hail reports and 42 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Hart County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Hart County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 55 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.