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A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Flatwoods · FEMA

FEMA puts Flatwoods’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Flatwoods gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #18 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 17 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 88%Tornadoes 4%Earthquakes 2%

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

less than 78%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#18 of 142 in Kentucky
Hazard risk
A−#18 of 142
in Kentucky · lower than 78% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
88% of expected building damage
Flood claims
17
paid since 1978 · $83K
Flooded more than once
3
properties
Disasters paid out here
11
of 27 declared for Greenup County
By hazard

What Flatwoods 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

88%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Earthquakes Strong wind Ice storms Hail Hurricanes Cold waves top 2% Winter storms Lightning Wildfire Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 30% of Flatwoods’ expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Flatwoods’ grade

River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Flatwoods, and Flatwoods’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Flatwoods sits
Flatwoods
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #18 of 142 in Kentucky; lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Flatwoods’ residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding88%Tornadoes4%Everything else8%

The typical Kentucky town has higher expected damage than 52% of U.S. towns; within the state, Flatwoods has less expected damage per building than 88% of Kentucky towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Flatwoods: $866K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Flatwoods covers 3 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Flatwoods flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Flatwoods, from FEMA’s records: 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 4 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 2 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 1 claim1990: 1 claim1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 1 claim2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 2 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 2 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197919822009
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The Mid-spring storms2 claims · $5K
  • The Late summer storms1 claim · $6K
17
paid claims since 1978
$83K
paid to owners
3
homes flooded more than once
$5K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Flatwoods isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Greenup County.
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Flatwoods

Disasters that paid out in Flatwoods itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Flatwoods), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$29K to the City of Flatwoods for repairs
  2. 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides37 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
  3. 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
  4. 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
  5. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$66K to the City of Flatwoods for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
Show all 11
  1. 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$22K to the City of Flatwoods for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes7 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
  3. 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes14 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$6K to the City of Flatwoods for repairs
  4. 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$15K to the City of Flatwoods for repairs
  5. 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to the City of Flatwoods for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in FlatwoodsGreenup County only

Greenup County has had 27 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Flatwoods after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Flatwoods archive →
Next door

Flatwoods and its neighbors

Flatwoods has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Russell: hazard risk C+Raceland: hazard risk B−Westwood: hazard risk CRussellRacelandWestwoodFlatwoods
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
FlatwoodsA−less damage than 78%river and rain flooding17
RacelandB−more damage than 55%river and rain flooding2
RussellC+more damage than 60%river and rain flooding27
WestwoodCmore damage than 72%river and rain flooding88

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Flatwoods faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Flatwoods

Is Flatwoods at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Flatwoods has lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #18 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Flatwoods flood?

Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in Flatwoods since 1978, $83K in all, or 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (2).

Is Flatwoods 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 Greenup County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.1% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Flatwoods?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Flatwoods’ 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 Flatwoods?

By FEMA money that reached Flatwoods, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2011): $66K to the City of Flatwoods for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 2 paid, $5K.

Is Flatwoods at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Flatwoods’ rate for it is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Flatwoods.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Flatwoods’ 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.