Enter any address in Knott County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the primary flood concern in Knott County. In the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 29 flash flood events, resulting in 16 fatalities, alongside 18 general flood events. Recent examples include heavy rains on July 15, 2023, which led to isolated flooding due to high stream levels, and a flash flood event on August 1, 2022, associated with a strong weather system.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, which has no base flood elevation (BFE) defined, have experienced the most claims. These claims averaged $40,185 with an average water depth of 3.3 feet. Properties in Zone X also show significant claim payouts, averaging $46,498 with an average water depth of 3.4 feet, suggesting that homes in areas with defined flood risks, even if not in the highest risk zones, can experience substantial damage. Homeowners in these zones, particularly those in low-lying areas or near streams, should pay close attention to flood risk information.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
28 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Knott County, Kentucky has recorded 47 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 29 flash floods and 18 river or area floods. The county has received 43 federal disaster declarations, 13 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1967–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 16, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | 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, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 15, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jul 26, 2022 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides | Severe Storm | Dec 31, 2021 |
| Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 27, 2021 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 3, 2020 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 31, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 15, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 27, 2022 | 0.00K (16 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2022 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 27, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2020 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2020 | 20.00K |
Flood — Jan 31, 2025
A closed upper level low slowly moved out of SW CONUS and opened into a positively tilted trough as it approached KY. Large scale flow ahead of the lows approaching cold front, pulled gulf moisture northward. Soaking rain resulted for much of the area, as this moisture rich air lifted over a warm front as it progressed northward. On Friday, the 31st, the trailing cold front pushed through the a...
Flood — Jul 15, 2023
As a cold front approached from the west throughout the day, showers and storms were on tap for portions of eastern Kentucky. While these storms did not become severe or cause much impact from the winds or hail, they did put down some heavy rains. This led to 2 isolated reports of flooding in both Martin and Knott counties due to streams running high.
Flash Flood — Jul 27, 2022
Between July 25th and July 30th, 2022, several complexes of training thunderstorms developed south of I-64 and brought heavy rain, deadly flash flooding, and devastating river flooding to eastern Kentucky and central Appalachia. These thunderstorms, at times, caused rainfall rates in excess of 4/hr across complex terrain that led to widespread devastating impacts. While it did not rain continuo...
Flash Flood — Aug 1, 2022
A midlevel shortwave trough was situated over the Upper Midwest Sunday night (31st) into Monday morning (1st). At the surface, a strong occluded low was also present. From this low and occlusion, a warm front extended to the southeast, lifting through the Commonwealth during the same time frame. A MCS developed in the Upper Mississippi Valley and continued to push southeast towards the Commonwe...
Flood — Feb 27, 2021
Several rounds of heavy rain moved across eastern Kentucky from late Friday, February 26th through early Monday, March 1st. The combination of all the heavy rainfall led to significant flooding across a good portion of central and east Kentucky. For some areas, this was the most significant flooding in the last 50 to 60 years, or more. FEMA estimates that this event cost $350-400 million doll...
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 Knott 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 Knott 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.