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Henderson County, Kentucky

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

Relatively Low overall risk
19th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$29Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 71homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Henderson County, Kentucky has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 73% of US counties. It ranks 19th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $29 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $640 per resident. Since 1996 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 71 homes here carry federal flood insurance (250 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.3 million on 380 claims here.

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

Top risks in Henderson County

$14.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$7.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 145 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate74.9
$14M
EarthquakeModerate92.9
$8M
Strong windHigh88.2
$2M
TornadoLow56.5
$1M
Heat waveLow73.8
$984K
Cold waveLow43.8
$685K
Ice stormHigh86.1
$587K
DroughtModerate71.2
$510K
HailLow61.7
$364K
LightningLow49.3
$205K
Winter weatherModerate75.1
$151K
HurricaneVery Low29.2
$12K
WildfireVery Low7.1
$2K
LandslideVery Low17.4
$76

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 Henderson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm15
Severe Ice Storm2
Snowstorm1
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Flood1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
Apr 10, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2020Severe Storms, 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
Show all 22
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
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 9, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jun 10, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 7, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2000Tornadoes, Severe Storms, Torrential Rains, and Flash FloodingMajor 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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 369 storm reports in Henderson County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 27 injuries and about $40.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on November 6, 2005 near Henderson.

28tornadoes
82hail reports, largest 3 inches
153damaging thunderstorm winds
88floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 6, 2005F3Henderson8 / 0
Mar 28, 2009EF3Kings Mills2 / 0
Nov 6, 2005F3Smith Mills0 / 0
Apr 3, 1956F3–0 / 0
Jun 28, 1960F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 15, 2005Flash FloodCountywide$18M
Nov 6, 2005TornadoHenderson$7M
May 1, 2011FloodBaskett$6M
May 1, 2011FloodAlzey$3M
May 31, 1982Tornado–$3M
Mar 28, 2009TornadoKings Mills$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 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.

Flood insurance in Henderson County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (250 policies)
20.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.3 millionpaid on 380 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $1.7 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 Henderson County

$171,900median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.2%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; 20,151 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
Vanderburgh County, INModerate18
Daviess CountyModerate17
Warrick County, INLow18
Posey County, INLow17
Union CountyVery Low26
Webster CountyVery Low22
McLean CountyVery Low22

Cities in Henderson County

Common questions about Henderson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Henderson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Henderson County, about $14.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $7.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Henderson County had?

Henderson County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1996, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in September 2026.

Is Henderson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 19th 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 Henderson County?

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

NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Henderson County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on November 6, 2005 near Henderson. The weather service has also logged 82 hail reports and 88 floods here.

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.