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Woodford County, Kentucky

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

Very Low overall risk
59th of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$13Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Woodford County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 60% of US counties. It ranks 59th of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $483 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (124 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $17 million on 509 claims here, including $8.1 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 Woodford County

$6.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow48.0
$6M
TornadoModerate73.2
$3M
Strong windModerate80.3
$1M
Cold waveLow45.5
$833K
EarthquakeVery Low58.0
$427K
HailLow52.8
$305K
LightningLow54.1
$283K
Heat waveVery Low28.6
$129K
Ice stormLow57.0
$121K
Winter weatherLow57.2
$86K
HurricaneVery Low33.8
$20K
DroughtVery Low21.4
$6K
WildfireVery Low7.7
$3K
LandslideVery Low15.9
$74

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Woodford County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm12
Flood4
Snowstorm3
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane1
Winter 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
Jul 23, 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
May 12, 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2015Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 23
May 11, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 19, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jun 10, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 3, 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
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major 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 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 178 storm reports in Woodford County since 1961, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $2.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 21, 1963.

9tornadoes
20hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
128damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 21, 1963F2–3 / 0
May 18, 1995F2Wilmore0 / 0
May 18, 1995F2Versailles0 / 0
Jul 2, 1980F1–0 / 0
Nov 9, 2000F1Versailles0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 20, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Aug 27, 1996HailMidway$500K
Jul 2, 1980Tornado–$250K
May 2, 2010FloodClifton$100K
Feb 21, 1993Thunderstorm Wind–$50K
May 14, 1995Thunderstorm WindMidway$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 18, 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 Woodford County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 44 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph44 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph45 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph45 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph44 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 Woodford County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (124 policies)
36.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$17 millionpaid on 509 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $8.1 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 Woodford County

$299,700median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.5%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; 11,686 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
Fayette CountyModerate19
Scott CountyLow13
Jessamine CountyVery Low24
Franklin CountyLow25
Anderson CountyVery Low23
Mercer CountyVery Low24

Common questions about Woodford County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Woodford County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Woodford County, about $6.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Woodford County had?

Woodford County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Woodford County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 59th 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 Woodford County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Woodford 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 Woodford County had?

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Woodford County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 21, 1963. The weather service has also logged 20 hail reports and 18 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Woodford County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Woodford County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 55 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.