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Union County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
51st of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$11Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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.
$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 135 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Drought

Moderate
$871,310 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow36.0
$3M
EarthquakeLow88.4
$3M
DroughtModerate83.0
$871K
Strong windModerate74.6
$867K
TornadoLow38.7
$632K
Ice stormHigh86.0
$505K
Heat waveLow60.5
$466K
Cold waveLow30.6
$343K
HailLow48.6
$195K
LightningLow26.3
$74K
Winter weatherLow55.6
$61K
HurricaneVery Low26.6
$9K
WildfireVery Low5.6
$1K
LandslideVery Low22.5
$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

Severe Storm17
Snowstorm3
Severe Ice Storm2
Flood2
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 23, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
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
May 22, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 10, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 26
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 26, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2016Severe Storm, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2015Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor 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
Oct 9, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record SnowMajor disaster
Jun 10, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 7, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster

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.

29tornadoes
52hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
87damaging thunderstorm winds
102floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 16, 2025EF3Spring Grove4 / 0
Jun 28, 1960F3–12 / 0
Nov 17, 2013EF3Chapman0 / 0
Mar 28, 2009EF3Boxville0 / 0
Apr 2, 2024EF2Raleigh0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 16, 2025TornadoSpring Grove$15M
Jun 28, 1960Tornado–$3M
May 1, 2011FloodUniontown$1M
Nov 14, 2005Flash FloodCountywide$500K
Nov 17, 2013TornadoChapman$500K
Apr 2, 2024TornadoRaleigh$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 ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (13 policies)
5.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$358,061paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $230,899 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 Union County

$104,500median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.4%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; 5,846 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
Henderson CountyLow22
Posey County, INLow17
Webster CountyVery Low22
Crittenden CountyVery Low26
Gallatin County, ILVery Low9
Hardin County, ILVery Low6

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.