Louisville and Nashville Railroad Depot · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Corbin faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Corbin gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #76 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 12 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 Corbin 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
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 Corbin’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Corbin, and Corbin’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #76 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Corbin’s residents live in 6 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, Corbin has more expected damage per building than 53% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Corbin: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Corbin flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Corbin, from FEMA’s records: 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Corbin isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Whitley County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Corbin
Disasters that paid out in Corbin itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Corbin), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes9 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides66 households applied for aid$154K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides19 households applied for aid$128K aid approved
- 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides233 households applied for aid$34K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides24 households applied for aid$26K aid approved$3K to the City of Corbin for repairs
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
Whitley County has had 31 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Whitley County, 2000–2001.
Old photos of Corbin after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Corbin archive →Corbin and its neighbors
Corbin is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Corbin | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Corbin | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
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 Corbin 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.
- 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 Corbin
Is Corbin at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Corbin has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #76 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Corbin flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Corbin since 1984, $274K in all, or 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Corbin 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 Whitley County, 7% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Corbin?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Corbin’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 Corbin?
By FEMA money that reached Corbin, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): 66 households applied for aid, $154K approved.
Is Corbin at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Corbin’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Corbin.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Corbin’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.