Enter any address in Owsley County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events dominates Owsley County's flood risk. Between July 25th and July 30th, 2022, intense thunderstorms caused deadly flash flooding and river flooding across eastern Kentucky, with rainfall rates exceeding 4 inches per hour in complex terrain. Earlier, from February 26th to March 1st, 2021, multiple rounds of heavy rain resulted in significant flooding, described as the most severe in 50 to 60 years for some areas, with statewide damages estimated between $350-400 million.
National Flood Insurance Program data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced claims averaging $10,827 for an average water depth of 1.2 feet. Homeowners and residents in areas designated as Zone A, or those located near rivers and streams, should pay particular attention to flood risk and preparedness.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
18 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Owsley County, Kentucky has recorded 52 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 23 flash floods and 29 river or area floods. The county has received 47 federal disaster declarations, 12 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, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 27, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 13, 2020 | 2.00K |
| Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 2, 2016 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2015 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Mar 4, 2015 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 3, 2015 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 4, 2014 | 1.00K |
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...
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 ...
Flood — Mar 1, 2021
Several rounds of heavy rain moved across eastern Kentucky from late Friday, February 26th through early Monday, March 1st. The combination of all the heavy rainfall led to significant flooding across a good portion of central and east Kentucky. For some areas, this was the most significant flooding in the last 50 to 60 years, or more. FEMA estimates that this event cost $350-400 million doll...
Flood — Sep 13, 2020
Deep moisture anchored across east Kentucky, combined with a stalled frontal boundary, then a cold front, led to several rounds of heavy rain from the evening of September 12th through the early afternoon hours on September 13th. This rain led to many reports of flooding and flash flooding, with several water rescues occurring during the late evening hours of September 12th. Rainfall amounts ra...
Flood — Feb 23, 2019
Periods of rain worked back into eastern Kentucky early on February 20 as a warm frontal boundary lifted north across the Commonwealth. A cold front brought additional rainfall through the afternoon and evening, before drier conditions worked into eastern Kentucky during the morning of February 21. ||Rain quickly spread back north that evening into the 22nd with southeastern Kentucky continuing...
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 Owsley 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 Owsley 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.