Russell Railroad YMCA · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Russell 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, Russell gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #78 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 27 claims here since 1996.
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 Russell 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 Russell’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Russell, and Russell’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #78 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Russell’s residents live in 4 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, Russell has more expected damage per building than 55% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Russell: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Russell flood? Sometimes: 27 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Russell, from FEMA’s records: 16.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms4 claims · $146K
Russell isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Greenup County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Russell
Disasters that paid out in Russell itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Russell), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$25K aid approved
- 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$124K to the City of Russell for repairs
- 2021Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides$37K to the City of Russell for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$9K to the City of Russell for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$14K to the City of Russell for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 13
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes2 households applied for aid$5K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$16K to the City of Russell for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes1 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes5 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$6K to the City of Russell for repairs
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and5 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$20K to the City of Russell for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$7K to the City of Russell for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$15K to the City of Russell for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
Greenup County has had 27 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 Russell after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Russell archive →Russell and its neighbors
Russell is 2nd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flatwoods | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Russell | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Upper Township | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Ironton | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Bellefonte | — | not graded yet | |
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 Russell 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Russell
Is Russell at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Russell has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #78 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Russell flood?
Flood insurance has paid 27 claims in Russell since 1996, $828K in all, or 16.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (4).
Is Russell 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 Greenup County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Russell?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Russell’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 Russell?
By FEMA money that reached Russell, Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2021): $124K to the City of Russell for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 4 paid, $146K.
Is Russell at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Russell’s rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Russell.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Russell’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.