Enter any address in Ballard County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers is a significant flood concern for Ballard County. NOAA data shows 71 flood events and 33 flash flood events in the last 30 years. For example, a prolonged flooding event on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in early March 2025 caused minor flooding of bottomland in areas like Hickman. Earlier that year, in February 2025, heavy rainfall led to minor and moderate flooding along the Ohio River in areas including Paducah and Olmsted.
NFIP claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, designated for areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding, experience the most substantial flood damage, with an average payout of $25,333 and an average water depth of 5.4 feet. While Zone X properties also see claims, the payouts and water depths are considerably lower. Residents in areas prone to river overflow, particularly those in or near Zone A floodplains, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
48 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Ballard County, Kentucky has recorded 104 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 33 flash floods and 71 river or area floods. The county has received 28 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides | Severe Storm | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | May 21, 2024 |
| Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 27, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 6, 2019 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Feb 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 5, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 10, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 1, 2024 | 0.00K |
Flood — Feb 16, 2025
Two waves of heavy rainfall (2-7) over the Ohio, Tennessee, and Green River Valleys on the 15th resulted in minor flooding along a large portion of the Ohio River, including the Evansville, Henderson, Golconda, Smithland, and Cairo areas. Minor and moderate flooding occurred around Owensboro, Paducah, and Olmsted. The river crested at moderate flood levels at Owensboro (44.1 feet), Paducah (43....
Flash Flood — Feb 15, 2025
Significant flash flooding occurred over west Kentucky, as anomalously high amounts of low-level moisture streamed northward over a warm front that became stationary along the Tennessee border. Steady rains began just after 0000CST on the 15th and continued until around 0100CST on the 16th. The rain came in waves with the first one targeting Fulton, Murray, Fort Campbell, and Guthrie with 1-2�...
Flood — Feb 15, 2025
Two waves of heavy rainfall (2-7) over the Ohio, Tennessee, and Green River Valleys on the 15th resulted in minor flooding along a large portion of the Ohio River, including the Evansville, Henderson, Golconda, Smithland, and Cairo areas. Minor and moderate flooding occurred around Owensboro, Paducah, and Olmsted. The river crested at moderate flood levels at Owensboro (44.1 feet), Paducah (43....
Flood — Jan 5, 2025
A winter storm, with locally major impacts, affected western Kentucky on the 5th with a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. A brief wintry mix that fell primarily as freezing rain quickly transitioned to plain rain later that morning and afternoon across much of the region. Peak accumulations ranged from a trace to a half inch of snow and sleet along with a glaze of ice. Further north along ...
Flood — Mar 1, 2025
A prolonged flooding event on the Green, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers, that began in the middle of February, continued into the first week of March. The Green River continued to see the worst flooding with moderate flooding continuing near Calhoun. Minor flooding mainly of bottomland continued at Paradise, Shawneetown, Olmsted, Cairo, and Hickman. Heavy rainfall in the middle of February was th...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Ballard County, Kentucky:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Ballard County, Kentucky that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.