Photo: Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing) · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Leitchfield faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Leitchfield gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #70 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (51%), then tornadoes (15%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Leitchfield 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
Hail
Earthquakes
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 Leitchfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 51% of the building damage FEMA expects in Leitchfield, and Leitchfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 15%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #70 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Leitchfield’s residents live in 4 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, Leitchfield has less expected damage per building than 51% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Leitchfield: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Leitchfield flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Leitchfield. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Leitchfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Grayson County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Leitchfield
Disasters that paid out in Leitchfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Leitchfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides26 households applied for aid$131K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides$76K to the City of Leitchfield for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$19K to the City of Leitchfield for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding9 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$5K to the City of Leitchfield for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$602K to the City of Leitchfield for repairs
Show all 11
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$45K to the City of Leitchfield for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides13 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$15K to the City of Leitchfield for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes7 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and$29K to the City of Leitchfield for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$55K to the City of Leitchfield for repairs
Grayson County has had 24 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 Leitchfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Leitchfield archive →Leitchfield and its neighbors
Leitchfield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leitchfield | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Clarkson | — | 865 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 Leitchfield 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Leitchfield
Is Leitchfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Leitchfield has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #70 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (51%) and tornadoes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Leitchfield 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 Grayson County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Leitchfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Leitchfield’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 Leitchfield?
By FEMA money that reached Leitchfield, Severe Winter Storm and Flooding (2009): $602K to the City of Leitchfield for repairs.
Is Leitchfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (51%), and Leitchfield’s rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Leitchfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Leitchfield’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.