Clay County, KY Environment & Hazard Risk
Relatively Low natural hazard risk, led by landslide. 404 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $15.8M
- Relatively Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 404
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 53
- 0.7% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 0
- 2 tropical storms or stronger since 1915
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Relatively Low
Score 67.1 of 100
Social vulnerability
Very High
Score 92.4 of 100
Community resilience
Very Low
Score 6.8 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $2.58B · Agriculture value exposed: $6.72M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $27.38M
Risk by hazard
- LandslideRelatively Moderate$56.54K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.6 events a year
- WildfireRelatively Low$423K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 87 years
- Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$79.03K/yr expected annual loss, about 14 events a year
- Cold waveRelatively Moderate$1.26M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
- Strong windRelatively Moderate$394K/yr expected annual loss, about 5.6 events a year
- HailRelatively Low$173K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.2 events a year
- AvalancheVery Low$321/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
- Heat waveRelatively Low$200K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.6 events a year
- EarthquakeVery Low$102K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 456 years
- TornadoRelatively Low$547K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
- LightningRelatively Low$85.53K/yr expected annual loss, about 53 events a year
- HurricaneVery Low$14.3K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 44 years
- DroughtVery Low$14.43K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.1 events a year
- Ice stormVery Low$7,505/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 53 of 7,843 (0.7%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 910
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 49 (5%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 66
- Claims paid since 1978
- $697K
Flood claims paid per year
- Late July Flooding$225K · 7 claims
- Flooding$120K · 16 claims
- February Kentucky Flooding$26.72K · 2 claims
- Heavy rains$554 · 1 claim
Storm history
Since 1996: 404 events, 4 deaths, $3.48M in damage
- Thunderstorm Wind181
- Hail45
- Flash Flood41 · 3 deaths
- Flood26
- Heavy Snow26
- Winter Weather25
- Winter Storm11 · 1 death
- Frost/Freeze11
- High Wind7
- Heavy Rain6
Events per year
7 tornadoes on record (F0 4, F2 2).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Flash Flood07/28/2022
Littleton, Clay County
3 deaths
What happened
Multiple reports of flash flooding were received from western Clay County. Reports included:||3:00 AM EST - The bridge at Skull Branch was reported washed out.|3:00 AM EST - The newspaper indicated multiple reporst of flash flooding in the Little Bullskin area near Oneida around this time. Some reports of flooding were also found on social media.|3:18 AM EST - A RV reportedly washed away along Booneville Road near Oneida. |3:20 AM EST - Beech Creek Road at the Bert T. Combs Campground was closed due to flooding.|4:40 AM EST - The culvert for KY-1482 over Panco Branch at the Intersection of Panco Drive washed away.|7:00 AM EST - The cooperative observer in Oneida measured 7.20 inches of rainfall in a 24 hour period.|2:09 PM EST (28th) - A landslide (debris flow) was reported on KY-11 near mile marker 22 in Clay County, near the community of Teges.
- Winter Storm02/16/2015
Clay
1 death
What happened
A member of the public reported that 2.5 inches of snow had fallen in Oneida as of 930 am on the 16th. By 1122 am, Burning Springs had picked up 4 inches of snow in about five hours. Five inches of snow was reported in Oneida as of noon on this day. By storms end, the entire county had received 5 to 10 inches of snow. The highest observed snow fall amounts were out of Manchester and Oneida where 9 and 10 inches fell respectively. A woman died of hypothermia after becoming lost in the woods in the Wagon Fork Road area just prior to the snowfall beginning.
- Flood04/17/1998
Clay
$1.72M damage
What happened
Flash flooding that occurred on April 16 and 17 developed into widespread river flooding in the Kentucky River basin on the 17th. An intial crest occurred at most locations on the 17th or 18th, but additional heavy rains from the 18th into the 19th resulted in a second crest on either the 19th or 20th. Crests were 4.3 feet above flood stage at Jackson, 5 feet above flood stage at Booneville, and 5.5 feet above flood stage at Hazard. Numerous roads were flooded, and some homes and business were also affected by high water. In Hazard, Main Street had to be closed for a time on April 19. In Jackson, Panbowl Lake backed up, and flooded the basements and lower levels of several homes at Lakeside Estates.
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind05/26/2024
Horse Creek, Clay County
1 injured, $11K damage
What happened
A tree fell down onto a picnic shelter at Rawlings Stinson Park in Manchester. One person sustained non-life threatening injuries in the event, and was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
- Flash Flood07/11/2004
Manchester, Clay County
1 injured, $5,000 damage
What happened
Several roads were flooded, including Highway 638. One woman was injured when leaving a stalled car on Greenbriar Road and lost footing in the flood water. She was treated and released from a hospital with minor injuries.
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind05/26/2024
Sibert, Clay County
$201K damage
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Winter Storm01/24/2026
Clay
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/26/2025
Horse Creek, Clay County
$26K damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/17/2025
Herron, Clay County
$11K damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind05/20/2025
Jonsee, Clay County
$1,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind05/20/2025
Spurlock, Clay County
$1,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind05/16/2025
Big Creek, Clay County
$3,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind05/16/2025
Hector, Clay County
$3,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind05/16/2025
Gooserock, Clay County
$3,000 damage
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Storms whose track crossed Clay County, with the wind when it passed
- Unnamed storm (1934)06/04/1934 · Landfall: LA · 966 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1915)09/21/1915 · Landfall: LA · 931 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
Drinking water
2 community water systems serve about 16,681 people. Violations since 2021.
1 system had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 1 system had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- Manchester Water WorksServes 11,349 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
- North Manchester Water AssocServes 5,332 · Purchased surface water · Private2 health violations+9 monitoring or reporting
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Manchester 4 W, 3.8 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 87°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 22°F in Jan..
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 22°F | - |
| Feb | 51°F | 25°F | - |
| Mar | 60°F | 33°F | - |
| Apr | 71°F | 39°F | - |
| May | 78°F | 49°F | - |
| Jun | 84°F | 58°F | - |
| Jul | 87°F | 63°F | - |
| Aug | 87°F | 61°F | - |
| Sep | 82°F | 54°F | - |
| Oct | 71°F | 41°F | - |
| Nov | 60°F | 31°F | - |
| Dec | 51°F | 25°F | - |
| Year | 55°F average | - | |
Pollution sites
0 Superfund sites and 1 toxic release facility in Clay County
Superfund sites
None in this county.
Toxic release facilities
- Fci Manchester645 lbs released, Manchester
Total: 645 lbs in 2024, 645 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Clay County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Clay County relatively low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $15.8M a year. The highest-rated hazards are landslide (relatively moderate), wildfire (relatively low), winter weather (relatively moderate).
- What storms are most common in Clay County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 404 storm events affecting Clay County, most often thunderstorm wind (181), hail (45), flash flood (41).
- How many tornadoes have hit Clay County?
- 7 tornadoes have been recorded in Clay County since 1950.
- How many homes in Clay County have flood insurance?
- 53 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Clay County, covering about 0.7% of homes. The program has paid $697K on 66 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Clay County?
- At Manchester 4 W, average highs reach 87°F in Jul and lows fall to 22°F in Jan (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.