Nicholas County, KY Environment & Hazard Risk
Very Low natural hazard risk, led by landslide. 171 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $4.5M
- Very Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 171
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 16
- 0.4% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 0
- 1 tropical storm or stronger since 1888
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Very Low
Score 19.0 of 100
Social vulnerability
Very High
Score 95.5 of 100
Community resilience
Relatively Moderate
Score 52.4 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $1.74B · Agriculture value exposed: $33.39M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $7.37M
Risk by hazard
- LandslideVery Low$1,207/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- Strong windRelatively Low$340K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.6 events a year
- EarthquakeVery Low$88.81K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 537 years
- TornadoRelatively Low$445K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 11 years
- LightningRelatively Low$81.28K/yr expected annual loss, about 50 events a year
- Winter weatherRelatively Low$20.35K/yr expected annual loss, about 12 events a year
- HurricaneVery Low$9,957/yr expected annual loss, about once every 63 years
- Ice stormRelatively Low$17.27K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- HailVery Low$62.83K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.2 events a year
- DroughtVery Low$8,448/yr expected annual loss, about 2.8 events a year
- Heat waveVery Low$53.96K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.5 events a year
- Cold waveVery Low$134K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.3 events a year
- WildfireVery Low$542/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7,052 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: avalanche, 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
- 16 of 4,074 (0.4%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 168
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 12 (7%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 48
- Claims paid since 1978
- $1.85M
Flood claims paid per year
- Flooding$93.99K · 5 claims
- Mid-spring storms$5,638 · 2 claims
Storm history
Since 1996: 171 events, 2 deaths, $4.26M in damage
- Thunderstorm Wind59
- Flood40
- Flash Flood26 · 2 deaths
- Winter Storm13
- Heavy Snow11
- Frost/Freeze6
- High Wind5
- Ice Storm5
- Hail4
- Heavy Rain2
Events per year
1 tornado on record (F1 1).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Flash Flood07/30/2021
Miller, Nicholas County
1 death, $1M damage
What happened
Heavy rain caused flash flooding in Carlisle as Brushy Fork Creek quickly left it's banks. Several streets including Main Street were under several feet of water. Some reported over 4 feet of water in several homes. Homes were pushed off their foundations, and several cars floated downstream in the current. People had to be rescued through broken windows by emergency responders on watercraft. Some people lost most of their possessions, but one woman who lived in a mobile home on Moorefield Road lost her life after emergency responders couldn't respond in time to her call for help. She was found in the water 600 feet downstream.
- Flash Flood07/28/2023
Hooktown, Nicholas County
1 death
What happened
A house was swept away due to flood waters along West Headquarters Road near Hooktown.
- Thunderstorm Wind87 kt wind02/06/2008
Carlisle, Nicholas County
1 injured, $300K damage
What happened
The first damage occurred two miles west of Carlisle where straight line winds blew the roofs off a barn and a trailer, and a manufacturing company suffered significant roof damage. Tree and barn damage occurred on KY 32 and KY 1455 north of Carlisle. The most significant damage happened three miles northeast of Carlisle near the intersection of KY 32 and Stoney Creek Road. A small barn was completely destroyed and blown into the highway. Several other barns had their roofs removed. A car was blow 15 feet into a telephone pole by the winds.
- Flash Flood07/30/2021
Carlisle, Nicholas County
$1M damage
What happened
Several streets in Carlisle experienced flash flooding. Cost of damage is unknown.
- Flash Flood07/20/1998
Countywide, Nicholas County
$1M damage
What happened
East central Kentucky saw widespread flooding as anywhere from 3 to 6 inches of rain fell over a 3 hour span. Numerous roads were closed due to high water across this area, and many basements were flooded as well. Over 100 evacuations were made to residence of mobile homes and apartments, and a few rescues were also made as motorists were trapped in high water.
- Flood03/01/1997
Nicholas
$450K damage
What happened
Record flooding occurred all along the Licking River basin as 24 hour rainfall amounts beginning early March 1 totaled from 6 to 10 inches. Stoner Creek at Paris crested at a record 30.0 feet (flood stage is 18 feet) at 5 am est on March 2. The Licking River at Cynthiana crested at a record 28.0 feet (flood stage is 20 feet) at 530 pm est on March 2. The Licking River at Blue Licks Spring crested at a record 47.6 feet (flood stage is 25 feet) at 7 pm est on March 2. The towns of Blue Licks Spring, Cynthiana and Paris all received major flooding with many homes and businesses under water. All of these counties were declared federal disaster areas and received federal aid. A 66 year old man was found dead in his pickup truck by Hingston Creek in Millersburg.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/17/2026
Myers, Nicholas County
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/22/2026
Carlisle, Nicholas County
- Winter Storm01/24/2026
Nicholas
- Frost/Freeze10/24/2025
Nicholas
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind04/03/2025
Henryville, Nicholas County
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind04/03/2025
Weston, Nicholas County
- Winter Storm01/05/2025
Nicholas
- High Wind53 kt wind09/27/2024
Nicholas
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Storms whose track crossed Nicholas County, with the wind when it passed
- Unnamed storm (1888)08/14/1888 · Landfall: FL, LATropical storm52 mph nearby
Drinking water
3 community water systems serve about 10,410 people. Violations since 2021.
None of the systems serving this county had a health-based violation in this period.
- Western Fleming Water DistrictServes 4,262 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
- Nicholas Co Water DistrictServes 4,089 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
- Carlisle Water DepartmentServes 2,059 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
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 Flemingsburg 2 N, 17 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 86°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 23°F in Jan. About 49.8 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 8.8 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 23°F | 3.71 in | 2.7 in |
| Feb | 45°F | 25°F | 3.50 in | 3.2 in |
| Mar | 54°F | 32°F | 4.72 in | 1.4 in |
| Apr | 66°F | 42°F | 4.66 in | - |
| May | 75°F | 53°F | 4.76 in | - |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 4.81 in | - |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 5.82 in | - |
| Aug | 85°F | 63°F | 3.52 in | - |
| Sep | 80°F | 56°F | 3.39 in | - |
| Oct | 69°F | 45°F | 3.46 in | - |
| Nov | 55°F | 34°F | 3.24 in | 0.3 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 28°F | 4.23 in | 1.2 in |
| Year | 55°F average | 49.8 in | 8.8 in | |
Pollution sites
0 Superfund sites and 0 toxic release facilities in Nicholas County
No Superfund sites or toxic release facilities in Nicholas County in our data.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk10 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Nicholas County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Nicholas County very low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $4.5M a year. The highest-rated hazards are landslide (very low), strong wind (relatively low), earthquake (very low).
- What storms are most common in Nicholas County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 171 storm events affecting Nicholas County, most often thunderstorm wind (59), flood (40), flash flood (26).
- How many tornadoes have hit Nicholas County?
- 1 tornado have been recorded in Nicholas County since 1950.
- How many homes in Nicholas County have flood insurance?
- 16 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Nicholas County, covering about 0.4% of homes. The program has paid $1.85M on 48 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Nicholas County?
- At Flemingsburg 2 N, average highs reach 86°F in Jul and lows fall to 23°F in Jan, with 49.8 inches of rain a year (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.