Madisonville Armory · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Madisonville than in 71% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Madisonville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #97 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (43%), then earthquakes (29%). Flood insurance has paid 25 claims here since 1991.
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 Madisonville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Madisonville 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
Ice storms
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 Madisonville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 43% of the building damage FEMA expects in Madisonville, and Madisonville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 7%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C #97 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Madisonville’s residents live in 7 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, Madisonville has more expected damage per building than 68% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.1M a year in losses across Madisonville: $7.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Madisonville flood? Sometimes: 25 flood claims since 1991
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Madisonville, from FEMA’s records: 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The February Kentucky Flooding1 claim · $9K
- The Storm1 claim · $4K
Madisonville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hopkins County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Madisonville
Disasters that paid out in Madisonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Madisonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides57 households applied for aid$261K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides40 households applied for aid$16K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$118K to the City of Madisonville for repairs
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes484 households applied for aid$615K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes20 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$2.0M to the City of Madisonville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 13
- 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike$353K to the City of Madisonville for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides$49K to the City of Madisonville for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and5 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2005Severe Storms and Tornadoes225 households applied for aid$247K aid approved
- 2004Severe Winter Storm and Record Snow$36K to the City of Madisonville for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides9 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes2 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
Hopkins County has had 23 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 Madisonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Madisonville archive →Madisonville and its neighbors
Madisonville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madisonville | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Earlington | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
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 Madisonville 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.
- Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
- Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
- Keep sand or salt by the door.
- 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 Madisonville
Is Madisonville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Madisonville has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #97 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (43%) and earthquakes (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Madisonville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 25 claims in Madisonville since 1991, $594K in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from February Kentucky Flooding (1).
Is Madisonville 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 Hopkins County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Madisonville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Madisonville’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 Madisonville?
By FEMA money that reached Madisonville, Severe Winter Storm and Flooding (2009): $2.0M to the City of Madisonville for repairs. By flood claims, February Kentucky Flooding: 1 paid, $9K.
Is Madisonville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (43%), and Madisonville’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Madisonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Madisonville’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.