Hillsboro Covered Bridge · Photo: Photo by Greg Hume (Greg5030) · CC BY-SA 3.0Storms, floods and disasters in Salt Lick
Salt Lick isn’t graded for hazard risk: Salt Lick has 274 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 65 claims here since 1978.
What Salt Lick 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.
Does Salt Lick flood? Sometimes: 65 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Salt Lick, from FEMA’s records.
- The February Kentucky Flooding1 claim · $10K
- The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $3K
Salt Lick is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Bath County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Salt Lick
Disasters that paid out in Salt Lick itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Salt Lick), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides18 households applied for aid$21K aid approved
- 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding18 households applied for aid$43K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes123 households applied for aid$887K aid approved12 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and8 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved10 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and3 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
Bath County has had 25 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 Salt Lick after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Salt Lick archive →Get ready for what Salt Lick 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.
- Salt Lick residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Salt Lick
Does Salt Lick flood?
Flood insurance has paid 65 claims in Salt Lick since 1978, $837K in all. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from February Kentucky Flooding (1).
Is Salt Lick 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 Bath County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Salt Lick?
Salt Lick 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 Salt Lick?
By FEMA money that reached Salt Lick, Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes (2010): 123 households applied for aid, $887K approved. By flood claims, February Kentucky Flooding: 1 paid, $10K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Salt Lick.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Salt Lick’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.