Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Paintsville

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Court and Main, PaintsvillePhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Paintsville · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Paintsville faces more hazard damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Paintsville gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #138 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 102 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 96%

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

more than 96%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#138 of 142 in Kentucky
Hazard risk
D−#138 of 142
in Kentucky · higher than 96% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
96% of expected building damage
Flood claims
102
paid since 1978 · $1.3M
Flooded more than once
9
properties
Flood insurance
05% off
Community discount (class 9)

What stands out about Paintsville’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

102 paid flood claims since 1978$1.3M in all; 9 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 92% of U.S. towns.05% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Paintsville residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9).Moved out of harm’s way17 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 198456 flood claims were paid for 1984 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Paintsville 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

96%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Earthquakes Hail Strong wind Wildfire Hurricanes Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Paintsville’s grade

River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Paintsville, and Paintsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Paintsville sits
Paintsville
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #138 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Paintsville’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding96%Everything else4%

The typical Kentucky town has higher expected damage than 52% of U.S. towns; within the state, Paintsville has more expected damage per building than 97% of Kentucky towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.7M a year in losses across Paintsville: $4.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Paintsville covers 4 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Paintsville flood? Yes: 102 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Paintsville, from FEMA’s records: 44.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 2 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 56 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 1 claim1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 8 claims2004: 2 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 3 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 1 claim2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 1 claim2015: 1 claim2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 2 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 16 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 7 claims2026: 0 claims198420032021
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The February Kentucky Flooding7 claims · $138K
  • The Heavy rains2 claims · $67K
102
paid claims since 1978
$1.3M
paid to owners
9
homes flooded more than once
$13K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount05% off flood insurance

Paintsville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Johnson County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
17flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Paintsville

Disasters that paid out in Paintsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Paintsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides94 households applied for aid$788K aid approved$484K to the City of Paintsville for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$45K to the City of Paintsville for repairs
  3. 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides100 households applied for aid$178K aid approved$3.0M to the City of Paintsville for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$189K to the City of Paintsville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide31 households applied for aid$168K aid approved
  6. 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$18K to the City of Paintsville for repairs
Show all 13
  1. 2014Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$98K to the City of Paintsville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  2. 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding73 households applied for aid$198K aid approved$11K to the City of Paintsville for repairs
  3. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  4. 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$64K to the City of Paintsville for repairs
  5. 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides85 households applied for aid$256K aid approved$42K to the City of Paintsville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$33K to the City of Paintsville for repairs
  7. 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and41 households applied for aid$57K aid approved$39K to the City of Paintsville for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in PaintsvilleJohnson County only

Johnson County has had 40 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.

Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Johnson County, 2000–2001.

Were you here?

Old photos of Paintsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Paintsville archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Paintsville faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
  • Paintsville residents get 05% off flood insurance.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Paintsville

Is Paintsville at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Paintsville has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #138 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Paintsville flood?

Flood insurance has paid 102 claims in Paintsville since 1978, $1.3M in all, or 44.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from February Kentucky Flooding (7).

Is Paintsville 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 Johnson County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Paintsville?

Paintsville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in Paintsville?

By FEMA money that reached Paintsville, Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2021): 100 households applied for aid, $178K approved, and $3.0M to the City of Paintsville for repairs. By flood claims, February Kentucky Flooding: 7 paid, $138K.

Is Paintsville at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Paintsville’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Paintsville.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Paintsville’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.