Union County, Kentucky
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Union County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 57% of US counties. It ranks 51st of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and drought. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $777 per resident. Since 1996 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 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 $358,000 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 Union 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 36.0 | $3M | ||
| Earthquake | 88.4 | $3M | ||
| Drought | 83.0 | $871K | ||
| Strong wind | 74.6 | $867K | ||
| Tornado | 38.7 | $632K | ||
| Ice storm | 86.0 | $505K | ||
| Heat wave | 60.5 | $466K | ||
| Cold wave | 30.6 | $343K | ||
| Hail | 48.6 | $195K | ||
| Lightning | 26.3 | $74K | ||
| Winter weather | 55.6 | $61K | ||
| Hurricane | 26.6 | $9K | ||
| Wildfire | 5.6 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 22.5 | $118 |
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 low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Union County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 26
Kentucky also had 4 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 273 storm reports in Union County since 1956, with 1 death and 23 injuries and about $23.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 16, 2025 near Spring Grove.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2025 | EF3 | Spring Grove | 4 / 0 |
| Jun 28, 1960 | F3 | – | 12 / 0 |
| Nov 17, 2013 | EF3 | Chapman | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 2009 | EF3 | Boxville | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 2, 2024 | EF2 | Raleigh | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2025 | Tornado | Spring Grove | $15M |
| Jun 28, 1960 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 1, 2011 | Flood | Uniontown | $1M |
| Nov 14, 2005 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $500K |
| Nov 17, 2013 | Tornado | Chapman | $500K |
| Apr 2, 2024 | Tornado | Raleigh | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 19, 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.
Flood insurance in Union 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 Union 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; 5,846 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Henderson County | 22 | |
| Posey County, IN | 17 | |
| Webster County | 22 | |
| Crittenden County | 26 | |
| Gallatin County, IL | 9 | |
| Hardin County, IL | 6 |
Common questions about Union County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Union County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Union County, about $3.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $3.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Union County had?
Union County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1996, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Union County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 51st 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 Union County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Union 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 Union County had?
NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Union County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 16, 2025 near Spring Grove. The weather service has also logged 52 hail reports and 102 floods here.
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.