Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Irvine faces more hazard damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Irvine gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 2003.
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 Irvine 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 Irvine’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Irvine, and Irvine’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 2%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D− higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Irvine’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Irvine: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Irvine flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Irvine, from FEMA’s records: 7.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The February Kentucky Flooding1 claim · $23K
Irvine isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Estill County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Irvine
Disasters that paid out in Irvine itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Irvine), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides140 households applied for aid$783K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides170 households applied for aid$789K aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes178 households applied for aid$196K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides297 households applied for aid$368K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes175 households applied for aid$241K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and241 households applied for aid$728K aid approved
Estill County has had 32 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 Irvine after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Irvine archive →Irvine and its neighbors
Irvine 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Ravenna | — | 642 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 Irvine 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 Irvine
Is Irvine at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Irvine has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Irvine flood?
Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Irvine since 2003, $392K in all, or 7.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from February Kentucky Flooding (1).
Is Irvine 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 Estill County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Irvine?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Irvine’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 Irvine?
By FEMA money that reached Irvine, Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2021): 170 households applied for aid, $789K approved. By flood claims, February Kentucky Flooding: 1 paid, $23K.
Is Irvine at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Irvine’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Irvine.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Irvine’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.