Henderson County, Kentucky
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 74.9 | $14M | ||
| Earthquake | 92.9 | $8M | ||
| Strong wind | 88.2 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 56.5 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 73.8 | $984K | ||
| Cold wave | 43.8 | $685K | ||
| Ice storm | 86.1 | $587K | ||
| Drought | 71.2 | $510K | ||
| Hail | 61.7 | $364K | ||
| Lightning | 49.3 | $205K | ||
| Winter weather | 75.1 | $151K | ||
| Hurricane | 29.2 | $12K | ||
| Wildfire | 7.1 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 17.4 | $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
Most recent
Show all 22
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2005 | F3 | Henderson | 8 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 2009 | EF3 | Kings Mills | 2 / 0 |
| Nov 6, 2005 | F3 | Smith Mills | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 3, 1956 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 28, 1960 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 2005 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $18M |
| Nov 6, 2005 | Tornado | Henderson | $7M |
| May 1, 2011 | Flood | Baskett | $6M |
| May 1, 2011 | Flood | Alzey | $3M |
| May 31, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Mar 28, 2009 | Tornado | Kings 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | Inland flooding | |
| Fayette County | Inland flooding | |
| Kenton County | Inland flooding | |
| Boone County | Inland flooding | |
| Warren County | Inland flooding | |
| Hardin County | Inland flooding | |
| Daviess County | Inland flooding | |
| Campbell County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Vanderburgh County, IN | 18 | |
| Daviess County | 17 | |
| Warrick County, IN | 18 | |
| Posey County, IN | 17 | |
| Union County | 26 | |
| Webster County | 22 | |
| McLean County | 22 |
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.