Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Storms, floods and disasters in Nortonville
Nortonville isn’t graded for hazard risk: Nortonville has 904 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 15 claims here since 1978.
What Nortonville 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
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.
Does Nortonville flood? Sometimes: 15 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Nortonville, from FEMA’s records.
- The February Kentucky Flooding2 claims · $120K
Nortonville 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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Nortonville
Disasters that paid out in Nortonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Nortonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides56 households applied for aid$271K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$31K to the City of Nortonville for repairs
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes72 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$26K to the City of Nortonville for repairs
- 2016Severe Storm, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$40K to the City of Nortonville for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes6 households applied for aid$20K aid approved$8K to the City of Nortonville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$54K to the City of Nortonville for repairs
Show all 7
- 2004Severe Winter Storm and Record Snow$750 to the City of Nortonville for repairs
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 Nortonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Nortonville archive →Get ready for what Nortonville 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.
- 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 Nortonville
Does Nortonville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 15 claims in Nortonville since 1978, $162K in all. The most claims came from February Kentucky Flooding (2).
Is Nortonville 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 Nortonville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Nortonville’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 Nortonville?
By FEMA money that reached Nortonville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 56 households applied for aid, $271K approved. By flood claims, February Kentucky Flooding: 2 paid, $120K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Nortonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Nortonville’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.