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Morgan County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
98th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$7Mexpected losses a year
32federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Morgan County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 98th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $6.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $499 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (26 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 24 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 49 claims here, including $340,000 for floods in 2025.

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

Top risks in Morgan County

$5.1 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.
$442,420 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 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.
$282,410 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 floodingLow45.7
$5M
TornadoLow29.6
$442K
Strong windLow32.4
$282K
Cold waveVery Low19.7
$192K
Heat waveVery Low37.7
$181K
WildfireLow70.9
$162K
EarthquakeVery Low37.2
$112K
LightningLow33.7
$111K
HailVery Low25.6
$84K
Winter weatherLow45.1
$48K
LandslideModerate88.8
$45K
HurricaneVery Low37.4
$22K
Ice stormVery Low24.8
$21K

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 moderate 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 Morgan County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm16
Flood6
Snowstorm4
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane1
Tropical Storm1

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
Apr 23, 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 31, 2021Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 32
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, 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
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
Feb 21, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jun 10, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud AndMajor disaster
Apr 4, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 3, 1998Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 16, 1994Severe Weather, Freezing Rain, Sleet, SnwMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1970

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 371 storm reports in Morgan County since 1970, with 6 deaths and 83 injuries and about $77.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on March 2, 2012 near Artville.

5tornadoes
53hail reports, largest 3 inches
241damaging thunderstorm winds
62floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 2, 2012EF3Artville80 / 6
Feb 29, 2012EF2Mize0 / 0
Sep 29, 1972F2–3 / 0
Jun 2, 1990F1–0 / 0
Jun 14, 2009EF1Relief0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 2, 2012TornadoArtville$75M
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$250K
Mar 1, 1997Flash FloodCrockett$150K
Sep 12, 2020Flash FloodLick Branch$150K
Jul 14, 2000Thunderstorm WindEzel$110K
Apr 20, 1996Thunderstorm WindCannel City$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 20, 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 Morgan County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 64 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph50 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph50 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 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 Morgan County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (24 policies)
4.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 49 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $339,751 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 Morgan County

$118,200median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
34%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
35.5%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; 5,685 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
Rowan CountyLow30
Johnson CountyLow46
Lawrence CountyLow47
Magoffin CountyVery Low47
Elliott CountyVery Low32
Wolfe CountyVery Low32
Menifee CountyVery Low30

Common questions about Morgan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Morgan County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Morgan County, about $5.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $442,420.

How many federal disasters has Morgan County had?

Morgan County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 26 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Morgan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 98th 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 Morgan County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Morgan 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 Morgan County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Morgan County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on March 2, 2012 near Artville. The weather service has also logged 53 hail reports and 62 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Morgan County?

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