Photo: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Mayfield than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mayfield gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #130 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (59%), then river and rain flooding (27%). Flood insurance has paid 39 claims here since 1983.
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 Mayfield’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Mayfield faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
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 Mayfield’s grade
Earthquakes are 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mayfield, and Mayfield’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #130 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mayfield’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, Mayfield has more expected damage per building than 91% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.8M a year in losses across Mayfield: $5.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mayfield flood? Sometimes: 39 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mayfield, from FEMA’s records: 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $10K
Mayfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Graves County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mayfield
Disasters that paid out in Mayfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Mayfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$500 aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes3,624 households applied for aid$4.7M aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes52 households applied for aid$121K aid approved12 flood claims paid that year
Graves County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Mayfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mayfield archive →Get ready for what Mayfield faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Mayfield
Is Mayfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mayfield has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #130 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (59%) and river and rain flooding (27%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mayfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 39 claims in Mayfield since 1983, $526K in all, or 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Central U.S. April Flooding (1).
Is Mayfield 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 Graves County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mayfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mayfield’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 Mayfield?
By FEMA money that reached Mayfield, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2021): 3,624 households applied for aid, $4.7M approved. By flood claims, Central U.S. April Flooding: 1 paid, $10K.
Is Mayfield at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Mayfield’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mayfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mayfield’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.