Photo: Bedford at en.wikipedia · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Morgantown than in 71% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morgantown gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #96 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (45%), then hail (22%). 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 Morgantown 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
Hail
Earthquakes
Tornadoes
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 Morgantown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 45% of the building damage FEMA expects in Morgantown, and Morgantown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 22%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C #96 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Morgantown’s residents live in 2 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, Morgantown has more expected damage per building than 67% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Morgantown: $886K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Morgantown flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Morgantown. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Morgantown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Butler County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Morgantown
Disasters that paid out in Morgantown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Morgantown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides193 households applied for aid$866K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides24 households applied for aid$22K aid approved
- 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes8 households applied for aid$36K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides5 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
Butler 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 Morgantown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Morgantown archive →Get ready for what Morgantown 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Morgantown
Is Morgantown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morgantown has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #96 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (45%) and hail (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Morgantown 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 Butler County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Morgantown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Morgantown’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 Morgantown?
By FEMA money that reached Morgantown, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 193 households applied for aid, $866K approved.
Is Morgantown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (45%), and Morgantown’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Morgantown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Morgantown’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.