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Larue County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
112th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$6Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Larue County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 112th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $6.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $433 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 9 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $202,000 on 21 claims here.

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

Top risks in Larue 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.
$867,859 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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.
$566,815 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low22.9
$3M
TornadoLow36.3
$868K
Strong windLow45.0
$567K
Cold waveLow30.3
$513K
HailLow61.3
$471K
EarthquakeVery Low50.8
$343K
LightningLow33.9
$152K
Heat waveVery Low25.2
$117K
Ice stormLow41.5
$68K
Winter weatherLow40.4
$55K
DroughtVery Low29.6
$28K
HurricaneVery Low25.3
$11K
WildfireVery Low7.0
$3K
LandslideVery Low15.5
$81

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm12
Flood4
Snowstorm3
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 23, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
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
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
May 12, 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 6, 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 23
Feb 5, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record SnowMajor disaster
Aug 6, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 7, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 16, 1994Severe Weather, Freezing Rain, Sleet, SnwMajor disaster
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 5, 1970Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 207 storm reports in Larue County since 1952, with 1 death and 28 injuries and about $5.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 28, 1997 near Magnolia.

15tornadoes
39hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
123damaging thunderstorm winds
28floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 28, 1997F3Magnolia1 / 0
Mar 22, 1952F3–18 / 0
Jun 26, 2013EF2Tonieville0 / 0
Feb 29, 2012EF2Hodgenville0 / 0
Mar 28, 1997F2Creal0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 28, 1997TornadoMagnolia$3M
Jan 2, 2006TornadoTalley$500K
Jun 26, 2013TornadoTonieville$500K
Mar 22, 1952Tornado–$250K
Feb 29, 2012TornadoHodgenville$200K
Apr 3, 2018Thunderstorm WindMathers Mill$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 28, 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 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Larue County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 44 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1957most recent: Audrey

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph44 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph46 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph46 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph44 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 Larue County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (9 policies)
8.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$201,813paid on 21 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $141,673 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 Larue County

$183,500median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.5%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; 6,573 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
Hardin CountyLow25
Nelson CountyLow22
Taylor CountyVery Low22
Marion CountyVery Low21
Hart CountyVery Low25
Green CountyVery Low25

Common questions about Larue County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Larue County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Larue County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $867,859.

How many federal disasters has Larue County had?

Larue County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Larue County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 112th 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 Larue County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Larue 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 Larue County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Larue County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 28, 1997 near Magnolia. The weather service has also logged 39 hail reports and 28 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Larue County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Larue 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.