Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Paris

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
ParisstreetPhoto: Spiritrock4u at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Paris · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Paris 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, Paris gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #75 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 312 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 78%Tornadoes 10%Strong wind 4%

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 56%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#75 of 142 in Kentucky
Hazard risk
C+#75 of 142
in Kentucky · higher than 56% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
78% of expected building damage
Flood claims
312
paid since 1978 · $5.2M
Flooded more than once
49
properties · 18 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
10% off
Community discount (class 8)

What stands out about Paris’ natural hazards

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

312 paid flood claims since 1978$5.2M in all; 49 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 94% of U.S. towns.10% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Paris residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8).Made safer with FEMA grants20 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared; 2 storm safe rooms built with FEMA grants.Remembers 201558 flood claims were paid for 2015 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Paris 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

78%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

10%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Earthquakes Hail Ice storms Winter storms Hurricanes Lightning Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
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 Paris’ grade

River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Paris, and Paris’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Paris sits
Paris
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C+ #75 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Paris’ residents live in 7 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding78%Tornadoes10%Strong wind4%Everything else7%

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

In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Paris: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 7 census tracts by where Paris’ 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 Paris flood? Yes: 312 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Paris, from FEMA’s records: 66.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 22 claims1979: 17 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 5 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 15 claims1990: 9 claims1991: 1 claim1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 2 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 53 claims1998: 16 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 7 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 20 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 2 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 17 claims2009: 1 claim2010: 34 claims2011: 18 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 58 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 1 claim2019: 1 claim2020: 10 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 2 claims2026: 0 claims199720102015
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The Heavy rains19 claims · $202K
  • The February Kentucky Flooding1 claim · $3K
312
paid claims since 1978
$5.2M
paid to owners
49
homes flooded more than once
$17K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (18)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount10% off flood insurance

Paris is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Bourbon County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
20flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
2storm safe rooms built
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Paris

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

  1. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides96 households applied for aid$332K aid approved$248K to the City of Paris for repairs
  2. 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$18K to the City of Paris for repairs
  3. 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes37 households applied for aid$108K aid approved34 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$51K to the City of Paris for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  5. 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides15 households applied for aid$21K aid approved20 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and$89K to the City of Paris for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in ParisBourbon County only

Bourbon County has had 18 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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Paris archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Paris 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 ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
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.
  • Paris residents get 10% 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 Paris

Is Paris at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Paris has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #75 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Paris flood?

Flood insurance has paid 312 claims in Paris since 1978, $5.2M in all, or 66.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 49 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Heavy rains (19).

Is Paris 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 Bourbon County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Paris?

Paris is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Paris?

By FEMA money that reached Paris, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2015): 96 households applied for aid, $332K approved, and $248K to the City of Paris for repairs. By flood claims, Heavy rains: 19 paid, $202K.

Is Paris at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Paris’ rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Paris.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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