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Magoffin County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
72nd of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$8Mexpected losses a year
47federal declarations
1 in 63homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Magoffin County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 65% of US counties. It ranks 72nd of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $7.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $672 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 47 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (39 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 62 homes here carry federal flood insurance (61 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.8 million on 260 claims here, including $891,000 for floods in 2004.

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

Top risks in Magoffin County

$6.4 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.
$356,221 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 95 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$209,590 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow60.5
$6M
WildfireLow82.1
$356K
Strong windLow30.9
$210K
TornadoVery Low22.1
$201K
Cold waveVery Low18.6
$139K
Heat waveVery Low34.7
$122K
EarthquakeVery Low40.7
$111K
LightningLow28.8
$73K
HailVery Low25.3
$66K
Winter weatherLow45.7
$39K
LandslideModerate88.5
$34K
HurricaneVery Low37.3
$17K
Ice stormVery Low18.4
$10K
DroughtVery Low19.4
$2K

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm21
Flood13
Snowstorm4
Severe Ice Storm3
Fire2
Tornado1

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
Nov 26, 2024Remnants of Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
May 9, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 29, 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 31, 2021Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 47
Apr 24, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 12, 2018Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslideMajor disaster
May 12, 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 1, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2015Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 6, 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 25, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor 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
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jun 10, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 2, 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
May 7, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 2, 2001Ky - Eastern Fire Complex - 11/02/2001Fire management
Nov 4, 2000Ky - Eastern District Fire Complex - 11/03/00Fire management
Apr 29, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes,And FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 3, 1998Severe Winter StormMajor 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
Jan 29, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 30, 1989Severe Storms, Mudslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 30, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 15, 1984High Winds, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 6, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 27, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1983

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 305 storm reports in Magoffin County since 1983, with 0 deaths and 30 injuries and about $26.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on March 2, 2012 near Cutuno.

3tornadoes
63hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
170damaging thunderstorm winds
61floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 2, 2012EF3Cutuno30 / 0
May 16, 2023EF1Foraker0 / 0
Jul 8, 2001F0Salyersville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 2, 2012TornadoCutuno$25M
Jun 8, 1996Flash FloodSalyersville$500K
Feb 23, 2019Flash FloodSalyersville$250K
Jun 16, 2003Flash FloodSalyersville$100K
Apr 18, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$75K
Feb 20, 2019FloodSwampton$75K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 27, 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 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Magoffin County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 63 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph50 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph50 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 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 Magoffin County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (61 policies)
9.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.8 millionpaid on 260 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $890,912 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 Magoffin County

$89,000median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
38%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
46.7%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; 5,489 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
Floyd CountyModerate46
Johnson CountyLow46
Knott CountyLow41
Morgan CountyVery Low32
Breathitt CountyLow47
Wolfe CountyVery Low32

Common questions about Magoffin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Magoffin County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Magoffin County, about $6.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $356,221.

How many federal disasters has Magoffin County had?

Magoffin County has been included in 47 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 39 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Magoffin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 72nd 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 Magoffin County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 63 homes in Magoffin 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 Magoffin County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Magoffin County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on March 2, 2012 near Cutuno. The weather service has also logged 63 hail reports and 61 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Magoffin County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Magoffin County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, 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.