Enter any address in McLean County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along the Green, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers characterizes flood events in McLean County. Between January 31st and February 15th, 2025, heavy rainfall caused major flooding on the Green River, damaging numerous structures in Rumsey and lower Calhoun. Another prolonged event in February and early March 2025 saw continued moderate flooding on the Green River near Calhoun, with minor flooding affecting bottomland areas at multiple sites.
While flash flooding has also occurred, the data indicates a higher frequency of general flood events. NFIP claims show that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $15,072 for 1.9 feet of water depth. Properties in Zone X, though fewer in number, have seen higher average payouts ($19,042) with an average water depth of 0.4 feet.
Homeowners in flood-prone areas, particularly those near rivers or in Zone A, should pay close attention to flood risk. Residents in Zone X and Zone Unknown also have a history of claims and should be aware of potential flood impacts.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
33 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
McLean County, Kentucky has recorded 75 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 15 flash floods and 60 river or area floods. The county has received 24 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 (1989–2026)
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 |
| 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 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 21, 2018 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Feb 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 13, 2025 | 500.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 22, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 9, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
Flood — Feb 16, 2025
Significant flash flooding occurred over west Kentucky, as anomalously high amounts of low-level moisture streamed northward over a warm front that became stationary along the Tennessee border. Steady rains began just after 0000CST on the 15th and continued until around 0100CST on the 16th. The rain came in waves with the first one targeting Fulton, Murray, Fort Campbell, and Guthrie with 1-2�...
Flash Flood — Feb 15, 2025
Significant flash flooding occurred over west Kentucky, as anomalously high amounts of low-level moisture streamed northward over a warm front that became stationary along the Tennessee border. Steady rains began just after 0000CST on the 15th and continued until around 0100CST on the 16th. The rain came in waves with the first one targeting Fulton, Murray, Fort Campbell, and Guthrie with 1-2�...
Flood — Feb 13, 2025
Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall over the Green, Tennessee, and Ohio Valleys from January 31st through February 15th resulted in rising water levels on the Ohio and Green Rivers. The Green River took the brunt of the impact with major flooding from the Island area through Calhoun to near Jewel City. Numerous structures sustained flood damage in Rumsey and lower Calhoun. The Green River at Calh...
Flood — Mar 1, 2025
A prolonged flooding event on the Green, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers, that began in the middle of February, continued into the first week of March. The Green River continued to see the worst flooding with moderate flooding continuing near Calhoun. Minor flooding mainly of bottomland continued at Paradise, Shawneetown, Olmsted, Cairo, and Hickman. Heavy rainfall in the middle of February was th...
Flood — May 27, 2024
Heavy rain along the Green River basin from the May 23rd storms resulted in water levels rising at Paradise into minor flood on the 25th, while additional heavy rain from the May 26th storms caused a further rise to several feet above moderate flood stage at Paradise and a rise into minor flood at Calhoun. Flooding continued into the start of June.
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 McLean 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 McLean 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.