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Pike County, Kentucky

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
7th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$50Mexpected losses a year
45federal declarations
1 in 29homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Pike County, Kentucky has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 88% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and landslides. FEMA estimates about $50 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $849 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 45 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (36 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 29 homes here carry federal flood insurance (927 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $56 million on 2,480 claims here, including $18 million 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 Pike County

$44.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$999,833 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 85 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$980,217 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Look for cracks, tilting trees or fences on slopes nearby.
  • Ask the county about past slides on the street.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh94.0
$45M
WildfireModerate90.1
$1000K
LandslideHigh99.1
$980K
Strong windModerate72.6
$738K
Cold waveLow47.5
$604K
Heat waveLow67.2
$565K
EarthquakeVery Low57.3
$281K
HailLow53.9
$218K
Winter weatherModerate83.3
$174K
TornadoVery Low19.6
$158K
LightningLow39.4
$110K
HurricaneVery Low51.2
$57K
Ice stormLow35.3
$30K
AvalancheLow75.7
$12K
DroughtVery Low19.6
$3K

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 Pike County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm20
Flood15
Fire4
Snowstorm3
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
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 29, 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 27, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, LandslidesMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
Show all 45
Nov 20, 2016Southeastern Kentucky Fire ComplexFire management
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
Sep 30, 2014Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 4, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 23, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 29, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 25, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and RockslidesMajor disaster
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
Aug 15, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 4, 2000Ky - Eastern District Fire Complex - 11/03/00Fire management
Nov 20, 1999Ky, Wildfires #001Fire management
Apr 29, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes,And FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Jun 13, 1995Tornadoes, Severe Winds, HailMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
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
Jul 19, 1979Severe Storms,Flash FloodsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 6, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 24, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 15, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 1970Heavy Snowmelt, Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 27, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 742 storm reports in Pike County since 1965, with 7 deaths and 6 injuries and about $14.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on October 7, 2014 near Mc Combs.

2tornadoes
138hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
399damaging thunderstorm winds
179floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 7, 2014EF1Mc Combs0 / 0
May 20, 1998F0Kimper0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 3, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$6M
Jun 17, 2003Flash FloodDorton$3M
May 5, 1996Flash FloodBelfry$1M
Aug 8, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$500K
Aug 4, 1997HailPikeville$250K
Apr 15, 2007Flash FloodPhelps$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 16, 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 1979, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Pike County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with top winds near 60 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1989most recent: Hugo

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph56 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 Pike County

Check your address flood zone ›
3.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (927 policies)
21.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$56.2 millionpaid on 2,480 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $18.4 million 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 Pike County

$112,000median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
34.9%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; 29,044 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
Wise County, VALow17
Floyd CountyModerate46
Mingo County, WVLow34
Letcher CountyLow38
Buchanan County, VALow25
Knott CountyLow41
Dickenson County, VAVery Low19
Martin CountyLow35

Common questions about Pike County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pike County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pike County, about $44.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $999,833.

How many federal disasters has Pike County had?

Pike County has been included in 45 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 36 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Pike County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 7th 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 Pike County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 29 homes in Pike 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 Pike County had?

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Pike County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on October 7, 2014 near Mc Combs. The weather service has also logged 138 hail reports and 179 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Pike County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Pike County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), 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.