Lawrence County, KY Environment & Hazard Risk

• LandslideRelatively Moderate$41.42K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.2 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$1.05M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.2 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Low$106K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 329 years
• Ice stormRelatively Low$35.54K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$28.75K/yr expected annual loss, about 8.6 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$15.08K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 43 years
• EarthquakeVery Low$74.38K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 765 years
• Strong windRelatively Low$229K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.8 events a year
• LightningRelatively Low$80.77K/yr expected annual loss, about 50 events a year
• HailVery Low$85.05K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.4 events a year
• TornadoVery Low$188K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 14 years
• DroughtVery Low$617/yr expected annual loss, about 3.1 events a year
• Cold waveVery Low$98.38K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• AvalancheVery Low$6/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 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.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

32 of 7,597 (0.4%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

668

Insured in high-risk zones

28 (4%)

Flood claims since 1978

32

Claims paid since 1978

$468K

• Thunderstorm Wind92
• Hail56
• Flood38
• Flash Flood34
• Heavy Snow23
• Cold/Wind Chill21
• Drought20
• Winter Weather19 · 1 death
• Strong Wind17
• Winter Storm12

• TornadoEF3, 21.12 mi path, 300 yd wide03/03/2012

  Martha, Lawrence County

  2 deaths, 6 injured, $2M damage

  What happened

  The long tracked tornado reentered Lawrence County south of Blaine. The track moved near the Left Fork of Little Blaine Creek then across the Levisa Fork around the Chapman vicinity. The tornado exited into Wayne County, West Virginia, just north of Clifford, near the Donithon Branch vicinity.||A double wide mobile home along Spencer Branch was lifted off its cinder block foundation and slammed into the adjacent hillside. Rescue workers extricated 3 people including an elderly couple and a 14 year old girl. The 65 year old grandmother and the 14 year old girl were killed. The 75 year old grandfather was seriously injured but survived. Two other juvenile occupants of the house escaped without injury. A neighbor in another damaged house was also injured with a broken leg. In the Chapman vicinity, a family of 4 took shelter in their bathtub. The house was destroyed, but they survived. ||Maximum wind gusts of 140 to 150 mph were estimated near Clifford.||Damage assessment in the county included 30 homes destroyed. Another 9 homes had major damage. Over 200 people were approved for individual assistance or housing assistance from FEMA. Over $300,000 was used on debris...

• Winter Weather01/05/2017

  Lawrence

  1 death, $15K damage

  What happened

  A clipper type system brought widespread snowfall to eastern Kentucky on the 5th and 6th. Snow started on the morning of the 5th, and tapered off just after midnight early on the 6th. Widespread light snow occurred throughout the event, with several bands of moderate snow. Total snow accumulations across northeastern Kentucky were around 3 inches. Mid-morning on the 5th, just as snow was beginning to stick on the roads, a fatal vehicle accident occurred in Lawrence County. Many schools were dismissed early on the afternoon of the 5th as the snow started to accumulate.

• TornadoEF2, 2.38 mi path, 70 yd wide07/04/2016

  Louisa, Lawrence County

  5 injured, $500K damage

  What happened

  The tornado did extensive damage to the Louisa Walmart and the Brown Food Service Warehouse. Cars and shipping containers were overturned and moved up to 30 yards in the Walmart parking lot. Structural damage to the Walmart and the Brown Food Service warehouse occurred. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado crossed the Tug Fork into West Virginia before dissipating.||Maximum wind gusts were estimated at 120 mph. There were 5 minor injuries at the Walmart.

• TornadoEF3, 2.48 mi path, 1,200 yd wide03/03/2012

  Terryville, Lawrence County

  2 injured, $350K damage

  What happened

  The long track tornado clipped extreme southwestern Lawrence County, for a few miles around Terryville, before crossing briefly into Johnson County. ||Maximum wind gusts were estimated around 140 mph from damage to mobile homes. Two residents were injured in this segment of the tornado.

• Flash Flood04/04/2015

  Webbville, Lawrence County

  $1M damage

  What happened

  Numerous roads were blocked by flooding small streams throughout the county. Several culverts were damaged or washed out, damaging and closing roads. Blaine and Webbville Fire Departments, plus Cherryville Fire and Rescue, responded to individuals in stalled flooded vehicles. A few examples of flooding included Buck Branch, which was blocking 3 D Road and getting around a few houses. Flooding occurred along Georges Creek around Charley. ||Total 24 hour rain amounts reached 2.5 to 4 inches during this flooding.||The county damage assessment was 6 homes destroyed and 8 others with major damage. Another dozen homes and 2 businesses had minor damage. About 8 homes were classified as in a major risk due to hillside slides. Around 43 small private bridges or culverts were destroyed.

• Flash Flood03/01/1997

  Countywide, Lawrence County

  $1M damage

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/22/2026

  Five Forks, Lawrence County

  $2,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind05/20/2026

  Overda, Lawrence County

  $3,500 damage

• Drought05/01/2026

  Lawrence

• Thunderstorm Wind45 kt wind04/01/2026

  Louisa, Lawrence County

  $500 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind04/01/2026

  Georges Creek, Lawrence County

  $2,000 damage

• Strong Wind30 kt wind03/16/2026

  Lawrence

  $500 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind03/16/2026

  Louisa, Lawrence County

  $1,500 damage

• Strong Wind40 kt wind03/13/2026

  Lawrence

  $500 damage

• Hurricane Frederic (1979)08/29/1979 · 943 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1915)09/21/1915 · Landfall: LA · 931 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby

• Louisa Water DepartmentServes 8,236 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations