Enter any address in Russell County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Russell County. Between 2000 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 16 flash flood events and 5 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding observed on August 6-7, 2022, and July 6-8, 2022, due to slow-moving thunderstorms in a moist environment. A significant flood event also occurred on February 28, 2021, associated with a stalled frontal boundary that brought heavy rainfall.
FEMA data indicates that while most flood insurance claims in Russell County are in Zone X, Zone A properties have experienced higher average payouts and water depths. Homeowners in Zone A, and those residing 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.
7 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Russell County, Kentucky has recorded 21 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 16 flash floods and 5 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 (1971–2026)
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 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 6, 2019 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 6, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 31, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 26, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 22, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 28, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 25, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 2, 2010 | 100.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 8, 2022
Multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms moved across Kentucky between July 6th and July 8th. The main focus for convection was areas along and just south of a quasi-stationary surface front, initially positioned from west to east across central Indiana on July 6th. Each afternoon, thunderstorms developed in the unstable airmass, gradually pushing south and east before dissipating quic...
Flash Flood — Aug 6, 2022
Multiple waves of showers and thunderstorms moved across central Kentucky on August 6th and 7th as an exceptionally moist environment promoted the development of precipitation across the region. Precipitable water values approaching 2 inches remained over the area both days, and a lack of significant large-scale forcing kept storm motions fairly slow. As a result, multiple instances of flash fl...
Flood — Feb 28, 2021
A stalled frontal boundary brought waves of heavy rainfall to central Kentucky from February 26 through February 28. This caused record rainfall, isolated severe winds, and even a tornado. As a result, Bowling Green set a February daily rainfall record with 5.11 on the 28th. The severe winds brought down some trees and a power pole, but the most property damage came from a brief EF1 tornado.
Flash Flood — Feb 23, 2019
On February 19, 2019, a broad upper trough dipped south to the Gulf of Mexico and carried abundant amounts of moisture towards the Ohio Valley. Once the moisture was transport was underway, isentropic lift caused 1.5 to 3 of rainfall along the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys. The higher amounts went as far north as south central Indiana.||On the 20th, an upper trough axis and cold front push...
Flash Flood — May 31, 2018
With a moisture rich and highly unstable environment, an impulse from Missouri |formed a line of severe weather that pushed from west to east across southern |Indiana and central Kentucky. This line dropped heavy rainfall which caused flooding |issues and severe winds that caused damage to property.
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 Russell 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 Russell 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.