Enter any address in Lawrence County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding and riverine flooding are the primary flood concerns in Lawrence County, KY. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 38 flood events and 34 flash flood events. For example, on January 31, 2025, heavy rainfall led to impassable roadways due to high water across the area.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $25,726 and an average water depth of 4.5 feet. Zone X_SHADED properties, though fewer in number, have seen a higher average water depth of 8.5 feet, with an average payout of $11,035. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_SHADED areas, as well as those in Zone X and Zone X_UNSHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
54 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Lawrence County, Kentucky has recorded 72 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 34 flash floods and 38 river or area floods. The county has received 49 federal disaster declarations, 11 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, 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, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides | Severe Storm | Dec 31, 2021 |
| Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 27, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 8, 2021 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 31, 2025 | 0.25K |
| Flood | Jan 31, 2025 | 0.15K |
| Flood | Jan 31, 2025 | 0.50K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 17, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 8, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2025 | 1.50K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 3, 2025 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jan 31, 2025
Flooding concerns quickly arose on the morning of January 31st in northeast Kentucky as a low pressure system pressed into the region. Rain first entered into Kentucky around daybreak that morning then continued to be inundated by periods of heavy rainfall through the afternoon. This resulted in impassable roadways due to high water issues across the area. The disturbance departed to the northe...
Flash Flood — Jul 17, 2025
On the 17th of July, a cold front approached from the west and then stalled over southeast Ohio and West Virginia, leading to a period of active weather. The boundary eventually slid north as a warm front on the 19th of July while a disturbance passed across the Great Lakes region and took aim for New England. During this time, the Middle Ohio Valley and Central Appalachians remained firmly ent...
Flood — Feb 16, 2025
Light showers started to arrive into northeast Kentucky on the evening of February 14th, with more substantial rain spreading across the area overnight into the 15th as a warm front approached from the south. While precipitation coverage eroded from southeast Ohio and northwest West Virginia during the afternoon, moderate to heavy rain continued to trail across northeast Kentucky. This precipit...
Flood — Feb 15, 2025
Light showers started to arrive into northeast Kentucky on the evening of February 14th, with more substantial rain spreading across the area overnight into the 15th as a warm front approached from the south. While precipitation coverage eroded from southeast Ohio and northwest West Virginia during the afternoon, moderate to heavy rain continued to trail across northeast Kentucky. This precipit...
Flood — Feb 8, 2025
Rain entered the area late on the night of February 7th in the midst of an approaching low pressure system, with bands of precipitation continuing to feed into northeast Kentucky throughout the day on the 8th. A strip of one to two inches of rain fell across portions of northeast Kentucky. This strip of heavier rain fell across an area that had already been saturated by rain earlier in the week...
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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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.