Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Barbourville than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barbourville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #123 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 26 claims here since 1984.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Barbourville faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Barbourville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Barbourville, and Barbourville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
D #123 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Barbourville’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Kentucky town has higher expected damage than 52% of U.S. towns; within the state, Barbourville has more expected damage per building than 87% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Barbourville: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Barbourville flood? Sometimes: 26 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Barbourville, from FEMA’s records: 18.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Barbourville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Knox County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Barbourville
Disasters that paid out in Barbourville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Barbourville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$15K to the City of Barbourville for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides10 households applied for aid$73K aid approved
- 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding61 households applied for aid$377K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides29 households applied for aid$17K aid approved$19K to the City of Barbourville for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes12 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
Show all 9
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and34 households applied for aid$46K aid approved
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$13K to the City of Barbourville for repairs
Knox County has had 32 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Knox County, 2000–2016.
Old photos of Barbourville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Barbourville archive →Get ready for what Barbourville faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Barbourville
Is Barbourville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barbourville has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #123 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Barbourville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 26 claims in Barbourville since 1984, $166K in all, or 18.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Barbourville in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Knox County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Barbourville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Barbourville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Barbourville?
By FEMA money that reached Barbourville, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2011): 61 households applied for aid, $377K approved.
Is Barbourville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Barbourville’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Barbourville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Barbourville’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.