Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Beattyville faces more hazard damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beattyville gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 18 claims here since 1978.
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 Beattyville 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
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 Beattyville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Beattyville, and Beattyville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C− higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Beattyville’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $801K a year in losses across Beattyville: $546K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Beattyville flood? Sometimes: 18 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Beattyville, from FEMA’s records: 37.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The February Kentucky Flooding6 claims · $546K
Beattyville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lee County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Beattyville
Disasters that paid out in Beattyville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Beattyville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides102 households applied for aid$461K aid approved$181K to the City of Beattyville for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides82 households applied for aid$239K aid approved
- 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides132 households applied for aid$577K aid approved$79K to the City of Beattyville for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$37K to the City of Beattyville for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$7K to the City of Beattyville for repairs
- 2014Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$10K to the City of Beattyville for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$24K to the City of Beattyville for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes13 households applied for aid$17K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides32 households applied for aid$39K aid approved$13K to the City of Beattyville for repairs
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and$4K to the City of Beattyville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$7K to the City of Beattyville for repairs
Lee County has had 35 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.
Old photos of Beattyville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Beattyville archive →Get ready for what Beattyville 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.
- 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 Beattyville
Is Beattyville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beattyville has higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Beattyville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 18 claims in Beattyville since 1978, $930K in all, or 37.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from February Kentucky Flooding (6).
Is Beattyville 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 Lee County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Beattyville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Beattyville’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 Beattyville?
By FEMA money that reached Beattyville, Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2021): 132 households applied for aid, $577K approved, and $79K to the City of Beattyville for repairs. By flood claims, February Kentucky Flooding: 6 paid, $546K.
Is Beattyville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Beattyville’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Beattyville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Beattyville’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.