Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Shepherdsville faces more hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shepherdsville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #136 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 118 claims here since 1983.
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 Shepherdsville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Shepherdsville 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
Tornadoes
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 Shepherdsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shepherdsville, and Shepherdsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 6%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
D #136 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Shepherdsville’s residents live in 8 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, Shepherdsville has more expected damage per building than 96% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.8M a year in losses across Shepherdsville: $8.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shepherdsville flood? Yes: 118 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shepherdsville, from FEMA’s records: 20.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Central U.S. April Flooding7 claims · $303K
- The Mid-spring storms2 claims · $45K
Shepherdsville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bullitt County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shepherdsville
Disasters that paid out in Shepherdsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Shepherdsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides170 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides9 households applied for aid$17K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
Bullitt County has had 21 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.
Old photos of Shepherdsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shepherdsville archive →Get ready for what Shepherdsville 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.
- 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.
- 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 Shepherdsville
Is Shepherdsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shepherdsville has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #136 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Shepherdsville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 118 claims in Shepherdsville since 1983, $2.2M in all, or 20.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Central U.S. April Flooding (7).
Is Shepherdsville 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 Bullitt County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shepherdsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shepherdsville’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 Shepherdsville?
By FEMA money that reached Shepherdsville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 170 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved. By flood claims, Central U.S. April Flooding: 7 paid, $303K.
Is Shepherdsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Shepherdsville’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shepherdsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shepherdsville’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.