Enter any address in Breckinridge County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Breckinridge County. Recent instances include localized flash flooding observed in Breckinridge County on July 22, 2024, and widespread heavy rainfall associated with a strong storm system on January 3, 2023.
Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 27 flash flood events and 16 flood events. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced an average of 0.5 feet of water depth with an average payout of $10,817. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have seen higher average payouts of $55,110, though with an average water depth of 0.0 feet.
Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, or those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Breckinridge County, Kentucky has recorded 43 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 27 flash floods and 16 river or area floods. The county has received 28 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1974–2026)
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, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Mar 3, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Tornado | Dec 10, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 22, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 16, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 3, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 11, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 30, 2019 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Feb 25, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 23, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 1, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 7, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 4, 2015 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 22, 2024
A stationary front was draped across central Kentucky, with waves of showers and thunderstorms moving along and north of this front on July 22nd. During the early morning hours, a cluster of slow-moving storms produced heavy rainfall which resulted in flash flooding across parts of Barren County. Another wave of showers and storms later in the afternoon produced scattered wind damage across War...
Flash Flood — Feb 16, 2023
A strong storm system moved through the Ohio Valley beginning late in the evening on February 15th and continuing through much of the day on February 16th. An amplified mid- and upper-level trough moved across the central Plains during this time period, with an associated surface disturbance transiting from the Red River Valley northeastward into the Ohio Valley. A surface warm front was locate...
Flash Flood — Jan 3, 2023
During the overnight hours and into the morning on January 3rd, a strong system moved across central Kentucky, bringing isolated damaging wind gusts and widespread heavy rainfall. The system was associated with a negatively-tilted upper-level trough which moved from the Four Corners region on January 2nd to the upper Midwest by January 4th. A surface cyclone transited in a similar fashion to th...
Flash Flood — Dec 11, 2021
Strong southern winds brought warm temperatures and plenty of moisture into an environment of strong wind shear ahead of an advancing cold front. This resulted in unusually warm temperatures for a December day and the ingredients to produce a historic tornado outbreak and flash flooding. This included multiple long track tornadoes. Central Kentucky saw 18 tornadoes that injured 96 and killed 18...
Flash Flood — Nov 30, 2019
A low pressure system approached central Kentucky from the west with a warm front extending to the east and a cold front to the south. Early in the day as the warm front moved north through central Kentucky, the lift provided by the front caused widespread heavy rainfall in areas that were already saturated from previous rains. Flash flooding was the result across several counties in central Ke...
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 Breckinridge 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 Breckinridge 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.