St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church · Photo: Bill Eichelberger · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Wilder than in 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wilder gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #17 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%), then tornadoes (21%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Wilder 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
Earthquakes
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 Wilder’s grade
River and rain flooding is 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wilder, and Wilder’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 21%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #17 of 142 in Kentucky; lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wilder’s residents live in 3 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, Wilder has less expected damage per building than 89% of Kentucky towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Wilder: $859K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wilder flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Wilder. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Wilder isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Campbell County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wilder
Disasters that paid out in Wilder itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Wilder), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$4K to the City of Wilder for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$13K to the City of Wilder for repairs
Campbell County has had 12 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 Wilder after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wilder archive →Wilder and its neighbors
Wilder is 2nd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Heights | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wilder | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Cold Spring | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Southgate | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Taylor Mill | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Newport | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Covington | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
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 Wilder 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Wilder
Is Wilder at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wilder has lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #17 of 142 in Kentucky. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%) and tornadoes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Wilder 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 Campbell County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wilder?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wilder’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 Wilder?
By FEMA money that reached Wilder, Severe Winter Storm and Flooding (2009): $13K to the City of Wilder for repairs.
Is Wilder at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Wilder’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wilder.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wilder’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.