Ridgeway · Photo: Jack Boucher · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in St. Matthews than in 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Matthews gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #90 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 91 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 St. Matthews 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
Earthquakes
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 St. Matthews’ grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in St. Matthews, and St. Matthews’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 9% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
C #90 of 142 in Kentucky; higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
St. Matthews’ residents live in 11 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, St. Matthews has more expected damage per building than 63% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.4M a year in losses across St. Matthews: $6.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does St. Matthews flood? Sometimes: 91 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in St. Matthews, from FEMA’s records: 9.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
St. Matthews isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Jefferson County.The storms St. Matthews remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Jefferson County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching St. Matthews itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200433 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides, declared for Jefferson County
- 200633 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20039 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes, declared for Jefferson County
Jefferson County has had 18 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 St. Matthews after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the St. Matthews archive →St. Matthews and its neighbors
St. Matthews is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graymoor-Devondale | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Beechwood Village | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Lyndon | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| St. Matthews | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 91 |
| Windy Hills | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Norwood | — | 424 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Woodlawn Park | — | 857 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Bellewood | — | 308 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Maryhill Estates | — | 268 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Brownsboro Village | — | 325 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 St. Matthews 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 St. Matthews
Is St. Matthews at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Matthews has higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #90 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does St. Matthews flood?
Flood insurance has paid 91 claims in St. Matthews since 1978, $2.9M in all, or 9.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is St. Matthews 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 Jefferson County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in St. Matthews?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for St. Matthews’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is St. Matthews at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and St. Matthews’ rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in St. Matthews.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where St. Matthews’ 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.