Enter any address in Rowan County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events dominates Rowan County's flood risk. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 48 flash flood events and 20 general flood events, resulting in two fatalities. Recent events include flash flooding on May 14, 2022, which led to a fatality in Rowan County as an individual attempted to cross a swollen creek, and on May 25, 2020, when slow-moving thunderstorms caused flash flooding requiring water rescues and damaging property near Morehead.
FEMA data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims, with an average payout of $18,097 and an average water depth of 6.1 feet. However, properties in Zone X_Unshaded have seen higher average payouts ($26,881) despite shallower average water depths (2.4 feet). Properties in Zone V, though rare, have experienced the deepest water on average at 15.0 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X_Unshaded, and Zone V, as well as those located near creeks and streams, should pay particular 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.
Rowan County, Kentucky has recorded 68 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 48 flash floods and 20 river or area floods. The county has received 32 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1978–2026)
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 |
| Remnants Of Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 |
| 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 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslide | Severe Storm | Jul 11, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Apr 2, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Mar 3, 2015 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2022 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jul 30, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 25, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 25, 2020 | 11.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 25, 2020 | 3.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 25, 2020 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 22, 2019 | 15.00K |
| Flood | Dec 16, 2019 | 4.00K |
| Flood | Dec 16, 2019 | 3.50K |
| Flash Flood | May 16, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 14, 2022
Heavy rain occurred in portions of northeast Kentucky on May 14, leading to swollen creeks and streams across the area. While no flash flood reports were received, there was a fatality reported in Rowan County. According to the county EM and rescue squad, an 80-year-old man was on a utility vehicle with his wife, attempting to cross a swollen creek along Bullfork Road. The utility vehicle repor...
Flash Flood — Jul 30, 2021
A strong low pressure system was present over the Great Lakes region to start the day on July 29th. From this extended a cold front to the southwest. As the low pressure continued eastward throughout the day, the cold front slowly shifted farther southward, before becoming elongated and slowing just north of the Ohio River. This kept much of Kentucky in the warm sector, with a strong push of wa...
Flash Flood — May 25, 2020
Isolated showers and thunderstorms developed late this afternoon into this evening. While these were overall weaker than those that occurred over the previous day or two in this persistent summer-like pattern, the slow movement of the storms led to flash flooding issues in Rowan and Bell Counties. Water rescues were performed in each county as water surrounded vehicles, while a tree toppled due...
Flash Flood — Jul 22, 2019
Numerous rounds of rainfall occurred on this date across the city of Morehead. As a cold frontal boundary approached from the northwest, showers and thunderstorms began to train along and ahead of the boundary as they produced 3 to 4 inch daily rainfall totals across portions of the city. This led to flowing water on highways, including Kentucky Highways 32 and 1167, subsequently leading to roa...
Flood — Dec 16, 2019
Heavy rainfall occurred across eastern Kentucky on December 16th, following previous rounds of rainfall. Thus, soils were saturated prior to the arrival of an additional 2-3 inches of rain. The heavier rain amounts and associated flooding impacts occurred west of U.S. Highway 23, including the Bluegrass region. A few mudslides were reported across Perry and Breathitt Counties, while Archer Park...
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 Rowan 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 Rowan 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.