Johnson County, Kentucky
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Johnson County, Kentucky has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 71% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $905 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 46 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (38 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 43 homes here carry federal flood insurance (211 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.2 million on 309 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Johnson 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 85.2 | $18M | ||
| Heat wave | 60.3 | $407K | ||
| Cold wave | 36.5 | $394K | ||
| Tornado | 30.5 | $365K | ||
| Strong wind | 31.7 | $213K | ||
| Wildfire | 76.3 | $204K | ||
| Lightning | 44.6 | $134K | ||
| Earthquake | 42.8 | $124K | ||
| Hail | 38.9 | $118K | ||
| Winter weather | 65.1 | $75K | ||
| Landslide | 89.9 | $39K | ||
| Hurricane | 45.8 | $34K | ||
| Ice storm | 33.2 | $27K | ||
| Avalanche | 7.3 | $3 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Johnson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 46
Kentucky also had 4 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1970
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 319 storm reports in Johnson County since 1970, with 6 deaths and 24 injuries and about $18.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on March 2, 2012 near Asa.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2012 | EF3 | Asa | 7 / 2 |
| Jun 2, 1990 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 2, 2012 | EF1 | Keaton | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 9, 2013 | EF0 | Lowmansville | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2012 | Tornado | Asa | $10M |
| Jul 13, 2015 | Flash Flood | Flatgap | $4M |
| Aug 22, 2014 | Flash Flood | Flatgap | $3M |
| Jun 10, 1998 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $500K |
| Jun 2, 1990 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 4, 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paintsville | $60K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 18, 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 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Johnson County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with top winds near 50 mph about 60 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 27 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 27 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 58 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 Johnson 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 Johnson 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; 10,583 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Floyd County | 46 | |
| Lawrence County | 47 | |
| Morgan County | 32 | |
| Magoffin County | 47 | |
| Martin County | 35 |
Common questions about Johnson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Johnson County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Johnson County, about $18.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $407,387.
How many federal disasters has Johnson County had?
Johnson County has been included in 46 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 38 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Johnson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 23rd 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 Johnson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 43 homes in Johnson 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 Johnson County had?
NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Johnson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on March 2, 2012 near Asa. The weather service has also logged 58 hail reports and 62 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Johnson County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Johnson County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with winds near 50 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.