Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA puts Pikeville’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pikeville gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #137 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). Flood insurance has paid 112 claims here since 1978.
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 Pikeville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Pikeville 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 Pikeville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 98% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pikeville, and Pikeville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #137 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pikeville’s residents live in 6 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, Pikeville has more expected damage per building than 96% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.3M a year in losses across Pikeville: $5.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pikeville flood? Yes: 112 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pikeville, from FEMA’s records: 30.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The February Kentucky Flooding18 claims · $1.4M
- The Storm3 claims · $91K
Pikeville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Pike County.18 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pikeville
Disasters that paid out in Pikeville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Pikeville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides981 households applied for aid$9.3M aid approved$1.0M to the City of Pikeville for repairs19 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides567 households applied for aid$719K aid approved
- 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$68K to the City of Pikeville for repairs
- 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$34K to the City of Pikeville for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$206K to the City of Pikeville for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$47K to the City of Pikeville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 18
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$15K to the City of Pikeville for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$459K to the City of Pikeville for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$75K to the City of Pikeville for repairs
- 2014Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$35K to the City of Pikeville for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding25 households applied for aid$44K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides698 households applied for aid$3.1M aid approved$23K to the City of Pikeville for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding and Mudslides629 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved$73K to the City of Pikeville for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Rockslides$94K to the City of Pikeville for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides153 households applied for aid$196K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes84 households applied for aid$90K aid approved$31K to the City of Pikeville for repairs
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and82 households applied for aid$221K aid approved$25K to the City of Pikeville for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$19K to the City of Pikeville for repairs
Pike County has had 39 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 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Pike County, 1999–2016.
Old photos of Pikeville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pikeville archive →Pikeville and its neighbors
Pikeville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pikeville | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 112 |
| Coal Run Village | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Pikeville 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.
- Pikeville residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Pikeville
Is Pikeville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pikeville has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #137 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pikeville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 112 claims in Pikeville since 1978, $2.6M in all, or 30.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from February Kentucky Flooding (18).
Is Pikeville 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 Pike County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pikeville?
Pikeville 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 Pikeville?
By FEMA money that reached Pikeville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 981 households applied for aid, $9.3M approved, and $1.0M to the City of Pikeville for repairs. By flood claims, February Kentucky Flooding: 18 paid, $1.4M.
Is Pikeville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (98%), and Pikeville’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pikeville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pikeville’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.