Enter any address in Elliott County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Elliott County. Between 1996 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 18 flash flood events and 14 flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on May 16, 2018, which affected areas from Morehead to west of Sandy Hook, and widespread showers and thunderstorms on June 23, 2017, that brought heavy rainfall to eastern Kentucky.
While the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has recorded limited claims in Elliott County, one claim in Zone A resulted in no payout and zero reported water depth. However, a claim in a Zone UNKNOWN resulted in an average payout of $10,004 with an average water depth of 1.0 foot. Residents in areas designated as Zone A or Zone UNKNOWN, and those located near waterways, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Elliott County, Kentucky has recorded 32 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 18 flash floods and 14 river or area floods. The county has received 34 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1989–2026)
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 |
| Remnants Of Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 15, 2023 |
| Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 27, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 8, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 16, 2018 | 0.10K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 23, 2017 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Dec 25, 2015 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2015 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Apr 14, 2015 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 3, 2015 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Apr 17, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 11, 2011 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Jul 21, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 12, 2010 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 16, 2018
A slow moving line of thunderstorms developed from mid to late this afternoon across central Kentucky. As this line progressed east into the Bluegrass region of eastern Kentucky, these storms increased in coverage as rainfall rates increased. This led to instances of flash flooding across portions of Bath and Montgomery Counties. These storms continued to move east into the evening hours, creat...
Flash Flood — Jun 23, 2017
The combination of the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Cindy and a late June cold front brought widespread showers and thunderstorms to much of eastern Kentucky this evening. A plethora of moisture in place due to the northward track of Cindy brought hefty rainfall amounts to the Bluegrass region and into portions of east central Kentucky. The highest recorded rainfall amount across eastern Kentuc...
Flood — Dec 25, 2015
Heavy rain and flooding affected portions of eastern Kentucky on Christmas day 2015. Several locations received between 1.5 and 2.75 inches of rain during this event.
Flash Flood — Jul 19, 2015
Scattered thunderstorms affected parts of northeast Kentucky during the early morning hours, and then erupted again over eastern Kentucky during the afternoon hours producing wind damage in a few locations.
Flood — Apr 14, 2015
Widespread aerial flooding occurred across eastern Kentucky again on April 14th and 15th. The hardest hit areas were in Estill, Elliott, and Powell counties.
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 Elliott 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 Elliott 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.