Photo: Bedford at en.wikipedia · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Hopkinsville than in 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hopkinsville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #127 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then earthquakes (25%). Flood insurance has paid 814 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 stands out about Hopkinsville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hopkinsville 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
Earthquakes
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 Hopkinsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hopkinsville, and Hopkinsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 8%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
D #127 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hopkinsville’s residents live in 11 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, Hopkinsville has more expected damage per building than 89% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $21.5M a year in losses across Hopkinsville: $13.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hopkinsville flood? Yes: 814 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hopkinsville, from FEMA’s records: 57.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Central U.S. April Flooding46 claims · $2.4M
- The February Kentucky Flooding8 claims · $290K
Hopkinsville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Christian County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hopkinsville
Disasters that paid out in Hopkinsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hopkinsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides341 households applied for aid$2.1M aid approved$165K to the City of Hopkinsville for repairs54 flood claims paid that year
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides149 households applied for aid$288K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$545K to the City of Hopkinsville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$500 aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes566 households applied for aid$38K aid approved9 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Storm, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$48K to the City of Hopkinsville for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
Show all 11
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$15K to the City of Hopkinsville for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes4 households applied for aid$650 aid approved21 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$59K to the City of Hopkinsville for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and6 households applied for aid$1K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$514 aid approved
Christian County has had 19 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 Hopkinsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hopkinsville archive →Hopkinsville and its neighbors
Hopkinsville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopkinsville | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 814 |
| Pembroke | — | 732 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 Hopkinsville 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- Hopkinsville residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Hopkinsville
Is Hopkinsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hopkinsville has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #127 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and earthquakes (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hopkinsville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 814 claims in Hopkinsville since 1978, $19.3M in all, or 57.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 89 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Central U.S. April Flooding (46).
Is Hopkinsville 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 Christian County, 46% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hopkinsville?
Hopkinsville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Hopkinsville?
By FEMA money that reached Hopkinsville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 341 households applied for aid, $2.1M approved, and $165K to the City of Hopkinsville for repairs. By flood claims, Central U.S. April Flooding: 46 paid, $2.4M.
Is Hopkinsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Hopkinsville’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hopkinsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hopkinsville’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.