Mason County, Kentucky
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Mason County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 61% of US counties. It ranks 65th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $9.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $569 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 13 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $178,000 on 16 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Mason 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 56.2 | $6M | ||
| Tornado | 57.9 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 73.0 | $850K | ||
| Heat wave | 50.4 | $305K | ||
| Earthquake | 54.1 | $271K | ||
| Cold wave | 20.5 | $188K | ||
| Lightning | 46.7 | $166K | ||
| Hail | 38.1 | $133K | ||
| Winter weather | 45.7 | $45K | ||
| Ice storm | 39.4 | $41K | ||
| Hurricane | 35.4 | $17K | ||
| Drought | 26.2 | $12K | ||
| Wildfire | 6.6 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 39.9 | $522 |
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 high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Mason County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 21
Kentucky also had 4 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1961
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 246 storm reports in Mason County since 1961, with 1 death and 7 injuries and about $8.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 10, 2003 near Maysville.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 2003 | F3 | Maysville | 0 / 0 |
| May 7, 1967 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 9, 1981 | F2 | – | 7 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 2026 | EF2 | Washington | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 2, 2024 | EF1 | Minerva | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 9, 1981 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Feb 18, 2000 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $1M |
| Jul 22, 2017 | Flash Flood | Maysville | $750K |
| Jul 25, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | – | $501K |
| Mar 1, 1997 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $500K |
| Nov 17, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | – | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 18, 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 Mason County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 40 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 40 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 59 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 40 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 Mason 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 Mason 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; 8,190 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Brown County, OH | 17 | |
| Adams County, OH | 17 | |
| Fleming County | 24 | |
| Lewis County | 32 | |
| Bracken County | 16 | |
| Robertson County | 22 |
Common questions about Mason County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Mason County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Mason County, about $6.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Mason County had?
Mason County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Mason County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 65th 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 Mason County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Mason 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 Mason County had?
NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Mason County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 10, 2003 near Maysville. The weather service has also logged 33 hail reports and 68 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Mason County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Mason 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.