Fort Mitchell Heights Historic District · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Fort Wright than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fort Wright gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #11 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then tornadoes (23%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1979.
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 Fort Wright’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Fort Wright 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 Fort Wright’s grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fort Wright, and Fort Wright’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 23%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #11 of 142 in Kentucky; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fort Wright’s residents live in 7 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, Fort Wright has less expected damage per building than 93% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Fort Wright: $740K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fort Wright flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fort Wright, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $6K
Fort Wright isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Kenton County.The storms Fort Wright remembers
None of the 10 disasters declared for Kenton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Fort Wright itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19982 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19791 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19931 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Kenton County has had 10 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 Fort Wright after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fort Wright archive →Fort Wright and its neighbors
Fort Wright is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park Hills | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Crestview Hills | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Fort Wright | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Fort Mitchell | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Edgewood | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Covington | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Kenton Vale | — | 158 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 Fort Wright 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 Fort Wright
Is Fort Wright at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fort Wright has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #11 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and tornadoes (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Fort Wright flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Fort Wright since 1979, $26K in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (1).
Is Fort Wright 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 Kenton County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fort Wright?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fort Wright’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 Fort Wright?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 1 paid, $6K.
Is Fort Wright at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Fort Wright’s rate for it is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fort Wright.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fort Wright’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.