FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Cold Spring than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cold Spring gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #26 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then tornadoes (19%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2015.
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 Cold Spring 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
Tornadoes
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 Cold Spring’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cold Spring, and Cold Spring’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 19%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #26 of 142 in Kentucky; lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cold Spring’s residents live in 3 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, Cold Spring has less expected damage per building than 82% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Cold Spring: $902K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cold Spring flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 2015
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cold Spring, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Cold Spring isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Campbell County.The storms Cold Spring remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for Campbell County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Cold Spring itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20162 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20151 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20171 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Campbell County has had 12 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 Cold Spring after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cold Spring archive →Cold Spring and its neighbors
Cold Spring is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Heights | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wilder | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cold Spring | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Alexandria | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Silver Grove | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 120 |
| Crestview | — | 505 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Cold Spring 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Cold Spring
Is Cold Spring at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cold Spring has lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #26 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and tornadoes (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cold Spring flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Cold Spring since 2015, $40K in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Cold Spring 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 Campbell County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cold Spring?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cold Spring’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Cold Spring at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Cold Spring’s rate for it is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cold Spring.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cold Spring’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.