Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Grayson than in 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grayson gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #126 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 35 claims here since 1978.
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 Grayson 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
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 Grayson’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Grayson, and Grayson’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D #126 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Grayson’s residents live in 2 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, Grayson has more expected damage per building than 89% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Grayson: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Grayson flood? Sometimes: 35 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Grayson, from FEMA’s records: 20.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Grayson isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Carter County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Grayson
Disasters that paid out in Grayson itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Grayson), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides50 households applied for aid$532K aid approved
- 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$8K to the City of Grayson for repairs
- 2021Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides$100K to the City of Grayson for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide51 households applied for aid$53K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides60 households applied for aid$212K aid approved$4K to the City of Grayson for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$6K to the City of Grayson for repairs
Show all 14
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides64 households applied for aid$314K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes135 households applied for aid$453K aid approved$32K to the City of Grayson for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$32K to the City of Grayson for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides60 households applied for aid$113K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes113 households applied for aid$299K aid approved$9K to the City of Grayson for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes104 households applied for aid$270K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and90 households applied for aid$95K aid approved
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$81K to the City of Grayson for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Carter County has had 32 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.
Old photos of Grayson after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Grayson archive →Get ready for what Grayson 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.
- 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 Grayson
Is Grayson at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grayson has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #126 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Grayson flood?
Flood insurance has paid 35 claims in Grayson since 1978, $607K in all, or 20.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Grayson 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 Carter County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Grayson?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Grayson’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 Grayson?
By FEMA money that reached Grayson, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): 50 households applied for aid, $532K approved.
Is Grayson at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Grayson’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Grayson.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Grayson’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.