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Livingston County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
90th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$7Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Livingston County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 73% of US counties. It ranks 90th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $840 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (53 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $497,000 on 24 claims here.

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

Top risks in Livingston County

$2.3 million 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.
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 110 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low23.3
$2M
EarthquakeLow82.1
$2M
TornadoLow49.1
$1M
Strong windModerate61.9
$640K
Ice stormHigh84.3
$479K
DroughtModerate68.8
$409K
Cold waveLow32.7
$396K
Heat waveLow50.3
$314K
HailVery Low26.8
$85K
LightningLow25.4
$75K
Winter weatherLow43.9
$44K
HurricaneVery Low24.1
$7K
WildfireVery Low6.5
$2K
LandslideVery Low32.7
$316

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

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm16
Flood3
Snowstorm3
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

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 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
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 26, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 27
Aug 26, 2016Severe Storm, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
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
Jun 3, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 15, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2000Tornadoes, Severe Storms, Torrential Rains, and Flash 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
Jan 29, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 29, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1963

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 225 storm reports in Livingston County since 1963, with 0 deaths and 10 injuries and about $7.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 24, 1970.

13tornadoes
62hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
86damaging thunderstorm winds
54floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 24, 1970F3–5 / 0
Nov 17, 2013EF2Smithland0 / 0
Apr 3, 2018EF2Burna0 / 0
Jan 12, 2013EF2Hampton0 / 0
Apr 28, 2002F2Joy0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2011FloodBirdsville$4M
Nov 17, 2013TornadoSmithland$400K
Feb 11, 2019FloodLedbetter$400K
Sep 22, 2006TornadoBayou$350K
May 3, 2010Flash FloodIuka$260K
Mar 1, 2018FloodBirdsville$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 16, 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 Livingston County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 58 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph58 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 Livingston County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (53 policies)
20.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$497,443paid on 24 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $223,836 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 Livingston County

$125,600median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24.5%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; 4,640 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
McCracken CountyModerate21
Marshall CountyLow27
Massac County, ILLow10
Crittenden CountyVery Low26
Lyon CountyVery Low20
Pope County, ILVery Low10
Hardin County, ILVery Low6

Common questions about Livingston County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Livingston County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Livingston County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Livingston County had?

Livingston County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Livingston County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 90th 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 Livingston County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Livingston 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 Livingston County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Livingston County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 24, 1970. The weather service has also logged 62 hail reports and 54 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Livingston County?

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