Photo: FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Greenup faces more hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenup gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 59 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 Greenup 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 Greenup’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greenup, and Greenup’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Greenup’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $699K a year in losses across Greenup: $550K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greenup flood? Sometimes: 59 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greenup, from FEMA’s records: 137.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $4K
Greenup 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Greenup
Disasters that paid out in Greenup itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Greenup), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides24 households applied for aid$56K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides48 households applied for aid$532K aid approved
- 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides40 households applied for aid$110K aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes148 households applied for aid$624K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides18 households applied for aid$33K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 9
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes11 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes79 households applied for aid$174K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and100 households applied for aid$112K aid approved
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.
Old photos of Greenup after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greenup archive →Greenup and its neighbors
Greenup is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Franklin Furnace | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hamilton Township | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Greenup | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Wurtland | — | not graded yet | |
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 Greenup 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 Greenup
Is Greenup at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenup has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Greenup flood?
Flood insurance has paid 59 claims in Greenup since 1978, $478K in all, or 137.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (1).
Is Greenup 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 Greenup?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greenup’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 Greenup?
By FEMA money that reached Greenup, Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes (2010): 148 households applied for aid, $624K approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 1 paid, $4K.
Is Greenup at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Greenup’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greenup.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greenup’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.