Enter any address in Letcher County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Letcher County. Between 2022 and 2025, the county experienced multiple significant flood events. For example, in July 2022, training thunderstorms brought heavy rain and flash flooding to eastern Kentucky. In May 2025, showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rain in areas including Letcher County.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows a significant number of claims in Zone A, which is typically a high-risk flood zone. There were also claims in Zone X, which can also experience flooding, and Zone Unknown. Homeowners in these zones, as well as those living near rivers or in areas prone to rapid water level rises, should pay close attention to flood risk information.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
23 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Letcher County, Kentucky has recorded 85 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 49 flash floods and 36 river or area floods. The county has received 40 federal disaster declarations, 14 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, 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 | Jul 26, 2022 |
| Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 27, 2021 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 3, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 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 | May 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 28, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2022 | 0.00K (3 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2022 | 15.00K |
| Flood | Mar 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 350.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 15, 2018 | 80.00K |
| Flood | Feb 11, 2018 | 1.00K |
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 — May 13, 2025
With high pressure exiting to the east of the state, a weak low pressure system started to form to our southwest, slowly moving northeast, making it through western KY between 18 and 21Z. This was accompanied by a closed upper level low, which was allowing for strong advection of warm and especially moist air into the region, focused across the east part of Kentucky. The result was showers and ...
Flood — Jul 28, 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 28, 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...
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 Letcher 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 Letcher 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.