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Henry County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
107th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$6Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Henry 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 107th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $6.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $395 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 28 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $575,000 on 32 claims here.

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

Top risks in Henry County

$3.2 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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
$865,348 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low27.3
$3M
TornadoLow50.2
$1M
Strong windModerate65.9
$865K
Cold waveLow27.4
$369K
EarthquakeVery Low43.2
$187K
LightningLow38.8
$154K
Heat waveVery Low20.8
$67K
HailVery Low13.0
$43K
Ice stormLow33.7
$39K
Winter weatherVery Low15.9
$13K
DroughtVery Low22.5
$7K
WildfireVery Low5.9
$2K
HurricaneVery Low9.7
$2K
LandslideVery Low28.6
$281

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm12
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
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 24, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 16, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesEmergency
May 22, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
Aug 12, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslideMajor disaster
Show all 21
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
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jun 10, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
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 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 223 storm reports in Henry County since 1965, with 1 death and 46 injuries and about $7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 1, 1974.

17tornadoes
52hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
127damaging thunderstorm winds
25floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 1, 1974F3–20 / 1
Feb 28, 2011EF3Bellview1 / 0
Jun 2, 1990F3–0 / 0
May 27, 2004F2Smithfield2 / 0
Jul 18, 1971F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 1, 1974Tornado–$3M
May 27, 2004TornadoSmithfield$3M
Feb 28, 2011TornadoBellview$500K
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$250K
Apr 5, 2017Thunderstorm WindEminence$200K
Feb 6, 2008Thunderstorm WindSulphur$150K

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 Henry County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 52 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph52 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph52 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 Henry County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (28 policies)
28.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$574,523paid on 32 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $211,834 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 Henry County

$197,900median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.2%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; 6,705 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
Oldham CountyLow16
Franklin CountyLow25
Shelby CountyLow18
Owen CountyVery Low21
Carroll CountyVery Low20
Trimble CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Henry County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Henry County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Henry County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Henry County had?

Henry County has been included in 21 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 Henry County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 107th 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 Henry County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Henry 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 Henry County had?

NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Henry County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 1, 1974. The weather service has also logged 52 hail reports and 25 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Henry County?

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