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Hickman County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
71st of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$8Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Hickman County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 64% of US counties. It ranks 71st of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, drought and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $8.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,822 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6,152 on 13 claims here.

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

Top risks in Hickman County

Earthquake

Moderate
$4.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 80 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Drought

Moderate
$844,853 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$837,116 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate90.9
$4M
DroughtModerate83.8
$845K
Inland floodingVery Low8.6
$837K
TornadoLow41.4
$659K
Ice stormHigh86.5
$488K
Strong windLow50.0
$397K
Cold waveLow34.2
$368K
Heat waveLow40.5
$170K
LightningVery Low20.4
$50K
HailVery Low17.0
$42K
Winter weatherLow36.2
$28K
HurricaneVery Low38.0
$19K
WildfireVery Low2.8
$730
LandslideVery Low40.3
$486

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 very high and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm14
Flood4
Snowstorm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado2
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
Jul 23, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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
Dec 11, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and TornadoesEmergency
Apr 24, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 26
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 26, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 4, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 29, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding and MudslidesMajor 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
May 19, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record SnowMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 29, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Kentucky also had 4 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 201 storm reports in Hickman County since 1961, with 4 deaths and 6 injuries and about $3.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on December 10, 2021 near Croley.

14tornadoes
30hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
80damaging thunderstorm winds
68floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 10, 2021EF3Croley5 / 0
May 2, 2010EF2Croley0 / 0
May 7, 1961F2–0 / 0
May 18, 1981F2–0 / 0
Apr 26, 2017EF1Croley0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 26, 2017TornadoCroley$425K
May 4, 2021TornadoOakton$350K
Sep 22, 2006Flash FloodCountywide$300K
May 2, 2010TornadoCroley$300K
Jul 19, 2023Flash FloodBeulah$250K
Feb 16, 2025FloodSouth Columbus$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 24, 2025. 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 Hickman County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 56 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph56 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 Hickman County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
5.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6,152paid on 13 flood claims since 1978
1983costliest year, with $6,085 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 Hickman County

$115,700median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16%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; 2,156 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
Graves CountyModerate20
Weakley County, TNLow19
Obion County, TNModerate20
Mississippi County, MOLow23
Fulton CountyLow24
Carlisle CountyVery Low25

Common questions about Hickman County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hickman County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Hickman County, about $4.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $844,853.

How many federal disasters has Hickman County had?

Hickman County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Hickman County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 71st 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 Hickman County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Hickman 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 Hickman County had?

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Hickman County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on December 10, 2021 near Croley. The weather service has also logged 30 hail reports and 68 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Hickman County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Hickman County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 60 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.