Enter any address in McCreary County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding and general flooding events have been the dominant flood character in McCreary County over the last 30 years, with 24 flash flood events and 22 flood events recorded by NOAA. Recent events include flooding in February 2020, which brought heavy rainfall and mudslides to the region, and another flood event in March 2021 attributed to a warm front and associated heavy rains.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows one claim in Zone A with an average payout of $1,569 and an average water depth of 0.0 ft. Residents in areas designated as Zone A, and those living near rivers or in low-lying areas, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
McCreary County, Kentucky has recorded 46 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 24 flash floods and 22 river or area floods. The county has received 22 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1974–2026)
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, 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 Winter Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 8, 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 | Mar 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2020 | 0.40K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 5, 2020 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Feb 5, 2020 | 0.20K |
| Flood | Feb 5, 2020 | 70.00K |
| Flood | Dec 29, 2019 | 0.50K |
| Flood | Dec 29, 2019 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Dec 29, 2019 | 0.20K |
| Flood | Feb 20, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 17, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flood — Mar 28, 2021
A warm front lifted north into the state Saturday, allowing for an intensification of moisture advection into the area. This was then followed up by a passing cold front and associated cold front, both of which provided lift and helped provide heavy rains across the state. While instability was limited, there was some severe thunderstorms which produced hail during the morning hours of Saturday...
Flash Flood — Jun 29, 2020
Multiple periods of heavy rainfall occurred across eastern Kentucky as an upper level disturbance nudged westward toward the western Appalachians. This resulted in flash flooding across portions of Pulaski and McCreary Counties, while a locally strong to severe thunderstorm occurred near Williamsburg. Additionally, a commercial vehicle was struck by lightning in Whitley County along Interstate 75.
Flash Flood — Feb 5, 2020
Beginning on February 3rd, numerous rounds of rainfall began to impact eastern Kentucky. This continued through February 7th, highlighted by heavy rainfall from the evening of February 5th through the first half of February 6th. Rain amounts of 4-6 inches fell across much of southeastern Kentucky over this period. This led to major flooding and numerous mudslides across portions of Whitley, Per...
Flood — Feb 5, 2020
Beginning on February 3rd, numerous rounds of rainfall began to impact eastern Kentucky. This continued through February 7th, highlighted by heavy rainfall from the evening of February 5th through the first half of February 6th. Rain amounts of 4-6 inches fell across much of southeastern Kentucky over this period. This led to major flooding and numerous mudslides across portions of Whitley, Per...
Flood — Dec 29, 2019
A strong cold front approached eastern Kentucky on December 29th, bringing widespread rainfall, particularly from the Bluegrass to Lake Cumberland regions. Despite rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches here, only isolated flooding issues were reported, in large part due to dry and thawed soils for more than a week prior to this rainfall. ||Isolated wind damage was also observed. One thunderstorm cl...
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 McCreary 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 McCreary 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.