Home › Kentucky › Jessamine County

Jessamine County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
60th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$18Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Jessamine County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 60% of US counties. It ranks 60th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $333 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (97 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.4 million on 179 claims here, including $1.6 million for floods in 2025.

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

Top risks in Jessamine County

$7.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 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.
$2.3 million 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 floodingLow42.3
$8M
TornadoModerate69.3
$4M
Strong windHigh84.8
$2M
Cold waveLow52.4
$1M
LightningModerate79.2
$994K
HailLow62.7
$596K
EarthquakeVery Low55.7
$531K
Heat waveLow41.3
$350K
Winter weatherModerate70.2
$186K
Ice stormLow53.6
$141K
HurricaneVery Low40.4
$43K
WildfireVery Low6.7
$3K
DroughtVery Low17.3
$3K
LandslideVery Low19.9
$162

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 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 Jessamine County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Snowstorm4
Flood3
Tornado2
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane1

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 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 23, 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2015Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 11, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 24
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
Jun 3, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud AndMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Jun 13, 1995Tornadoes, Severe Winds, HailMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1994Severe Weather, Freezing Rain, Sleet, SnwMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 1968Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 192 storm reports in Jessamine County since 1959, with 4 deaths and 34 injuries and about $2.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 23, 1968.

8tornadoes
23hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
132damaging thunderstorm winds
25floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 23, 1968F2–3 / 0
May 18, 1995F2Wilmore30 / 0
Apr 2, 2024EF1Brannon0 / 0
Apr 2, 2024EF1Dixon Town0 / 0
Oct 19, 2025EF1Nicholasville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 20, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$1M
May 2, 2010FloodHigh Bridge$500K
Apr 23, 1968Tornado–$250K
Feb 6, 2008Thunderstorm WindVineyard$100K
May 2, 2010FloodHigh Bridge$100K
Jul 2, 2018Flash FloodAmbrose$100K

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 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Jessamine County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 49 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph49 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph31 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph31 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph49 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 Jessamine County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (97 policies)
31%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.4 millionpaid on 179 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $1.6 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 Jessamine County

$268,100median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1992median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
30%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.7%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; 21,198 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
Fayette CountyModerate19
Madison CountyLow26
Woodford CountyVery Low23
Mercer CountyVery Low24
Garrard CountyVery Low18

Cities in Jessamine County

Common questions about Jessamine County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Jessamine County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Jessamine County, about $7.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Jessamine County had?

Jessamine County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in September 2026.

Is Jessamine County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 60th 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 Jessamine County?

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

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Jessamine County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 23, 1968. The weather service has also logged 23 hail reports and 25 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Jessamine County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Jessamine 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.