Enter any address in Lee County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding and river flooding have both occurred in Lee County, KY, with 32 events of each type recorded in the NOAA Storm Events Database over the last 30 years. Recent examples include significant flooding in February 2022 due to persistent rain and devastating flash and river flooding in July 2022 caused by intense thunderstorms.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows a mix of flood zones. Zone A, typically representing areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding, had 21 claims with an average payout of $44,100 and an average water depth of 7.2 feet. Zone X, representing areas with a 0.2% annual chance of flooding, had 5 claims with a higher average payout of $50,957 and an average water depth of 9.8 feet. Zone X_Shaded, also representing areas with a 0.2% annual chance of flooding, had 4 claims with an average payout of $10,559 and an average water depth of 0.2 feet.
Homeowners in flood zones, particularly those in Zone A, and properties located near rivers or in areas prone to flash flooding should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
19 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Lee County, Kentucky has recorded 64 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 32 flash floods and 32 river or area floods. The county has received 41 federal disaster declarations, 9 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1978–2026)
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, 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, 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, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 15, 2023 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jul 29, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 27, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 3, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2021 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 11, 2018 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Dec 23, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 20, 2017 | 1.00K |
Flood — Jul 29, 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 — 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...
Flood — Feb 3, 2022
Periods of mostly light to moderate rain spread across eastern Kentucky on February 2nd and February 3rd, as waves of low pressure rode along a slow-moving arctic cold front settling in from the northwest. The strongest and last wave of low pressure lifted across the Appalachians late February 3rd and into February 4th bringing with it a final round of rain, changing over to a wintry mix and ev...
Flash Flood — Jun 11, 2021
With a stationary boundary parked just north of the state, and deep S to SW flow, much of the state was seeing ample amounts of warm air and moisture being advected in. Afternoon storms developed each day, each capable of producing torrential rainfall. While the impacts were somewhat isolated on the 9th and 10th (Wednesday and Thursday), more scattered to widespread convection was forecast for ...
Flash Flood — Jul 11, 2021
Several days of heavy to torrential rains and gusty winds were experienced across eastern Kentucky from July 9th through the 12th. A strong surface low pressure remained parked across Illinois to our WNW, with a frontal boundary expanding eastward and through Kentucky, sinking just south of the state to start the day on the 9th. During the day on the 9th and the 10th, the front began lifting no...
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 Lee 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 Lee 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.