Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Elizabethtown faces less hazard damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elizabethtown gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #44 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 51 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 stands out about Elizabethtown’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Elizabethtown 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
Hail
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 Elizabethtown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elizabethtown, and Elizabethtown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
B #44 of 142 in Kentucky; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Elizabethtown’s residents live in 13 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, Elizabethtown has less expected damage per building than 70% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.6M a year in losses across Elizabethtown: $6.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Elizabethtown flood? Sometimes: 51 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elizabethtown, 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.
- The Mid-spring storms2 claims · $11K
- The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $5K
Elizabethtown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hardin County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Elizabethtown
Disasters that paid out in Elizabethtown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Elizabethtown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides155 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved9 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$500 aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding30 households applied for aid$85K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes41 households applied for aid$235K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$782K to the City of Elizabethtown for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and37 households applied for aid$43K aid approved$149K to the City of Elizabethtown for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
Hardin County has had 22 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 Elizabethtown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elizabethtown archive →Elizabethtown and its neighbors
Elizabethtown is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Elizabethtown 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Elizabethtown
Is Elizabethtown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elizabethtown has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #44 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Elizabethtown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 51 claims in Elizabethtown since 1984, $1.1M in all, or 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (2).
Is Elizabethtown 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 Hardin County, 25% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Elizabethtown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elizabethtown’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 Elizabethtown?
By FEMA money that reached Elizabethtown, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 155 households applied for aid, $1.0M approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 2 paid, $11K.
Is Elizabethtown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Elizabethtown’s rate for it is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elizabethtown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elizabethtown’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.