Menifee County, Kentucky
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Menifee County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 94% of US counties. It ranks 119th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $3.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $563 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 27 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.0 million on 17 claims here, including $931,000 for floods in 2021.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Menifee 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 | 21.8 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 19.8 | $224K | ||
| Strong wind | 22.1 | $201K | ||
| Cold wave | 12.6 | $115K | ||
| Heat wave | 20.2 | $63K | ||
| Hail | 15.2 | $51K | ||
| Wildfire | 51.5 | $51K | ||
| Lightning | 14.7 | $49K | ||
| Earthquake | 20.4 | $30K | ||
| Winter weather | 23.8 | $22K | ||
| Landslide | 80.8 | $17K | ||
| Ice storm | 14.1 | $8K | ||
| Hurricane | 16.6 | $4K | ||
| Drought | 15.5 | $799 | ||
| Avalanche | 21.8 | $44 |
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 low 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 Menifee County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 30
Kentucky also had 4 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1982
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 226 storm reports in Menifee County since 1982, with 3 deaths and 31 injuries and about $7.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on March 2, 2012 near Mariba.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2012 | EF3 | Mariba | 30 / 3 |
| Jun 2, 1990 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 6, 2008 | EF0 | Denniston | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 9, 2011 | EF0 | Pomeroyton | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 1997 | F0 | Frenchburg | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2012 | Tornado | Mariba | $2M |
| Jul 30, 2021 | Flash Flood | Frenchburg | $2M |
| Mar 1, 1997 | Flash Flood | Frenchburg | $1M |
| Mar 1, 1997 | Flash Flood | Frenchburg | $1M |
| Sep 9, 2018 | Flash Flood | Denniston | $550K |
| Jun 2, 1990 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 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 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Menifee County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 47 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 47 mi |
| Jun 28, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 53 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 40 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 40 mi |
| Jun 28, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 53 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 47 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 Menifee 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 Menifee 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; 3,367 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 22 | |
| Rowan County | 30 | |
| Morgan County | 32 | |
| Powell County | 33 | |
| Bath County | 27 | |
| Wolfe County | 32 |
Common questions about Menifee County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Menifee County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Menifee County, about $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $224,174.
How many federal disasters has Menifee County had?
Menifee County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in May 2026.
Is Menifee County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 119th 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 Menifee County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Menifee 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 Menifee County had?
NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Menifee County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on March 2, 2012 near Mariba. The weather service has also logged 36 hail reports and 56 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Menifee County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Menifee 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.