Enter any address in Scott County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Scott County. Between 2020 and 2025, NOAA data recorded 53 flash flood events and 14 flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on February 15th, 2025, associated with a strong storm system that brought heavy rainfall to central Kentucky, and another flash flood event on April 2nd, 2025, following a cold front that stalled over the lower Ohio Valley.
FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, which have experienced an average water depth of 15.8 feet and an average payout of $32,654, are most frequently impacted. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED also show significant claims, with an average water depth of 6.8 feet and an average payout of $14,013. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_UNSHADED, as well as those located near waterways or in areas without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
32 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Scott County, Kentucky has recorded 67 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 53 flash floods and 14 river or area floods. The county has received 15 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. 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, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides | Severe Storm | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Apr 2, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Jan 27, 2009 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Severe Ice Storm | Jan 26, 2009 |
| Hurricane Katrina | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | May 26, 2004 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 20.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 13, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 11, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2018 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Jun 26, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 23, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Feb 15, 2025
A strong storm system moved across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys on February 15th and 16th, 2025, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding, severe weather, and winter weather to central Kentucky. The large scale upper level pattern featured deep troughing ejecting across the central CONUS, with broad southwesterly flow occurring in the low and mid troposphere. Southerly flow helped to draw rich mo...
Flash Flood — Apr 4, 2025
On the night of April 2nd, 2025, a cold front approached the lower Ohio Valley. Along and ahead of the cold front, numerous supercells developed over southern Illinois and western Kentucky. These storms tracked eastward and occasionally grew upscale into a QLCS with bowing segments. Storms lasted all night and into the morning hours, as the cold front began to stall over the lower Ohio Valley. ...
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 — Jun 13, 2021
Central Kentucky sat under the leading edge of an upper ridge during a period of typical summer weather. Temperatures rose during the day creating strong instability in the atmosphere that caused showers and thunderstorms to breakout. As rain filled downdrafts initiated outflow boundaries, the outflow boundaries initiated more storms. This happened daily before a weak cold front pushed drier a...
Flood — Jun 13, 2021
Central Kentucky sat under the leading edge of an upper ridge during a period of typical summer weather. Temperatures rose during the day creating strong instability in the atmosphere that caused showers and thunderstorms to breakout. As rain filled downdrafts initiated outflow boundaries, the outflow boundaries initiated more storms. This happened daily before a weak cold front pushed drier a...
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 Scott 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 Scott 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.