Enter any address in Marion County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Marion County, Kentucky. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database has recorded 29 flash flood events and 10 flood events, which have resulted in one fatality. Recent examples include flash flooding on July 29, 2023, following heavy rainfall, and a significant flood event on February 16, 2023, associated with a strong storm system moving through the Ohio Valley.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $20,500. Claims in Zone X_UNSHADED have also occurred, with an average payout of $11,923 and an average water depth of 2.0 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X_UNSHADED, and Zone X should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
17 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Marion County, Kentucky has recorded 39 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 29 flash floods and 10 river or area floods. The county has received 23 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1970–2026)
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, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Mar 3, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Tornado | Dec 10, 2021 |
| 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 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 16, 2023 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2020 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2020 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 30, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 31, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 26, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 29, 2023
Northwest flow in the mid- and upper-levels of the atmosphere placed central Kentucky and southern Indiana on the edge of a ring of fire type pattern for several days at the end of July 2023. While most of the waves of convection remained to the north of the area thanks to building ridging aloft July 27th into the 28th, thunderstorms on July 27th clipped the Kentucky Bluegrass region. The prima...
Flash Flood — Jul 18, 2023
Another active period of weather set up across central Kentucky and southern Indiana July 17th and 18th, 2023 as multiple waves of showers and thunderstorms moved across the region, bringing damaging straight-line winds, severe hail, and one tornado to the region. The synoptic pattern was fairly consistent (albeit active) during this period, with large-scale mid- and upper-level troughing exten...
Flood — Feb 16, 2023
A strong storm system moved through the Ohio Valley beginning late in the evening on February 15th and continuing through much of the day on February 16th. An amplified mid- and upper-level trough moved across the central Plains during this time period, with an associated surface disturbance transiting from the Red River Valley northeastward into the Ohio Valley. A surface warm front was locate...
Flash Flood — Jul 16, 2021
South of a slow moving front across Illinois and Indiana, scattered convection initiated across central Kentucky in the warm sector. A few of the stronger storms caused scattered wind damage, isolated flash flooding, and a fire caused by lightning.
Flash Flood — Jun 29, 2020
During a time without any major weather systems moving through the region, a moist atmosphere with differential heating and remaining outflows from earlier thunderstorms was enough for thunderstorms and heavy rain to develop across central Kentucky. This resulted in widespread wind damage, flooding, and even fires from lightning. An elderly man drowned and his wife was injured trying to drive t...
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 Marion 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 Marion 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.