Less hazard damage per building is expected in Villa Hills than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Villa Hills gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #27 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then tornadoes (25%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2018.
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 Villa Hills 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 Villa Hills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Villa Hills, and Villa Hills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 25%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #27 of 142 in Kentucky; lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Villa Hills’ 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, Villa Hills has less expected damage per building than 82% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Villa Hills: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Villa Hills flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2018
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Villa Hills, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Villa Hills isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Kenton County.The storms Villa Hills remembers
None of the 10 disasters declared for Kenton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Villa Hills itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20181 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, declared for Kenton County
- 20191 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Kenton County has had 10 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 Villa Hills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Villa Hills archive →Villa Hills and its neighbors
Villa Hills is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crescent Springs | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Erlanger | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Cincinnati | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 723 |
| Villa Hills | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Bromley | — | 821 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 Villa Hills 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 Villa Hills
Is Villa Hills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Villa Hills has lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #27 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and tornadoes (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Villa Hills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Villa Hills since 2018, $20K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Villa Hills 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 Kenton County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Villa Hills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Villa Hills’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Villa Hills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Villa Hills’ rate for it is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Villa Hills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Villa Hills’ 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.