Catlettsburg, Kentucky, Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Depot · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA puts Catlettsburg’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Catlettsburg gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 17 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 Catlettsburg 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 Catlettsburg’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Catlettsburg, and Catlettsburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Catlettsburg’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Catlettsburg: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Catlettsburg flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Catlettsburg, from FEMA’s records: 19.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Catlettsburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Boyd County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Catlettsburg
Disasters that paid out in Catlettsburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Catlettsburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides11 households applied for aid$50K aid approved
- 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides17 households applied for aid$11K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$3K to the City of Catlettsburg for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$11K to the City of Catlettsburg for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding45 households applied for aid$144K aid approved$124K to the City of Catlettsburg for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes50 households applied for aid$124K aid approved
Show all 11
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides15 households applied for aid$23K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes13 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes25 households applied for aid$89K aid approved
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$18K to the City of Catlettsburg for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$1K to the City of Catlettsburg for repairs
Boyd County has had 28 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Catlettsburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Catlettsburg archive →Catlettsburg and its neighbors
Catlettsburg is 5th of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Kenova | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Perry Township | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| South Point | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Catlettsburg | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Catlettsburg 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 Catlettsburg
Is Catlettsburg at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Catlettsburg has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Catlettsburg flood?
Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in Catlettsburg since 1978, $204K in all, or 19.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Catlettsburg 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 Boyd County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Catlettsburg?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Catlettsburg’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 Catlettsburg?
By FEMA money that reached Catlettsburg, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2011): 45 households applied for aid, $144K approved, and $124K to the City of Catlettsburg for repairs.
Is Catlettsburg at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Catlettsburg’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Catlettsburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Catlettsburg’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.