Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Morehead 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, Morehead gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #77 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 150 claims here since 1989.
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 Morehead’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Morehead 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 Morehead’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Morehead, and Morehead’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #77 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Morehead’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, Morehead has more expected damage per building than 54% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Morehead: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Morehead flood? Yes: 150 flood claims since 1989
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Morehead, from FEMA’s records: 73.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Morehead isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rowan County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Morehead
Disasters that paid out in Morehead itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Morehead), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide138 households applied for aid$419K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides99 households applied for aid$161K aid approved
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$13K to the City of Morehead for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding31 households applied for aid$37K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides51 households applied for aid$151K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes413 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$67K to the City of Morehead for repairs
Show all 12
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides40 households applied for aid$45K aid approved23 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes11 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes44 households applied for aid$129K aid approved$2K to the City of Morehead for repairs
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and79 households applied for aid$148K aid approved
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$108K to the City of Morehead for repairs24 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$7K to the City of Morehead for repairs
Rowan County has had 28 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 Morehead after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Morehead archive →Get ready for what Morehead 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 Morehead
Is Morehead at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morehead has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #77 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Morehead flood?
Flood insurance has paid 150 claims in Morehead since 1989, $2.9M in all, or 73.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 35 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Morehead 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 Rowan County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Morehead?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Morehead’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 Morehead?
By FEMA money that reached Morehead, Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes (2010): 413 households applied for aid, $2.0M approved, and $67K to the City of Morehead for repairs.
Is Morehead at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Morehead’s rate for it is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Morehead.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Morehead’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.