Carter County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21043 · population 26,602 · 409 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 403 records for Carter County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 322 days; the most frequent are floods and flash floods (101 records). The deadliest single record is the April 29, 2014 heavy rain: 1 death and $15,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 37 declarations naming the county since 1978, 35 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 403on 322 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 53 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $49Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 2strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 37latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Carter County most?
The most frequent records are floods and flash floods: 101 since 1996. The rank column places the county among Kentucky's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | 101 | 80 | 1996-2026 | 4 | 1 | $40M | 36 of 118 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 84 | 65 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 2 | $4.3M | 118 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 61 | 60 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | 70 of 118 |
| Hail | 51 | 33 | 1983-2024 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 100 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 30 | 30 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $222K | 26 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 22 | 22 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $246K | 37 of 118 |
| Heat | 20 | 20 | 1997-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 28 of 118 |
| Drought | 19 | 19 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 26 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 12 | 12 | 1998-2017 | 1 | 0 | $15K | 23 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 1986-2008 | 0 | 0 | $479K | 112 of 118 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | $55K | 74 of 118 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Carter County had?
NOAA records 2 tornadoes in Carter County from 1986 to 2008, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 3 tornadoes whose track touched Carter County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 2: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Carter County (2)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-05-11 | Cory, Carter County | EF1 1.31 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $411K |
| 1986-07-11 | Carter County | F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Carter County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($3,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindGarvin Ridge, Carter County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-05-27 | FloodGlobe, Carter County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindGrayson, Carter County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtCarter County · forecast zone Carter | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-28 | Thunderstorm WindGlobe, Carter County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindCarter County · forecast zone Carter | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2026-03-02 | Winter WeatherCarter County · forecast zone Carter | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormCarter County · forecast zone Carter | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-20 | Cold/Wind ChillCarter County · forecast zone Carter | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-29 | Strong WindCarter County · forecast zone Carter | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2025-12-19 | Strong WindCarter County · forecast zone Carter | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2025-12-13 | Winter WeatherCarter County · forecast zone Carter | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-04-29 | Heavy RainBeetle, Carter County Little Fork was swollen, but not flooding, near its junction with the feeder stream called Leadingham Branch. Rains of 1 to 1.5 inches likely had fallen in the vicinity over the past 24 hours. A lull in the rain occurred during the late afternoon and early evening. During the early evening, a 73 year male tried to ... | 1 | 0 | $15K | |
| 2010-07-20 | Flash FloodSoldier, Carter County Streams such as Tygart Creek, Little and Big Sinking Creeks, Henderson Branch, Smith Run, and Mills Branch saw major flash flooding. A 72 year old woman drowned. Her mobile home was washed off its foundation and pushed some 200 yards to a bridge. The home broke into pieces at the bridge. Her body was not found until 3 ... | 1 | 0 | $6.8M | |
| 2004-03-05 | FloodCarter County · forecast zone Carter Rains of 1.5 to 2.5 inches fell in an interval of 12 hours or less. Several streams overflowed onto roads. Homes in the Westwood area of Boyd County had some basement flooding from Hoods Creek. Otherwise, there was a minimum of property damage. A fatal accident occurred earlier in the evening in northern Carter ... | 1 | 0 | $8K | |
| 2003-06-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Carter County Localized downpours of 2 inches flooded roads around Hitchins. Three spelunkers were in one of the caves around Carter Caves. They were walking in a underground stream, heading toward a cave exit. They were about 20 feet from the exit, when a 4 to 5 foot surge of water entered the cave. The first hiker, a 23 year old ... | 1 | 0 | $24K | |
| 1996-06-22 | Flash FloodOlive Hill, Carter County Three to 4 inches of rain caused stream flooding. A 24 year oldwoman drowned in Bens Run. She fell into the creek while tryingto cross a wooden bridge between her home and Route 986. The approach to the bridge had been washed away and she did notrealize that in the dark. The county coroner said she fell and was washed ... | 1 | 0 | $141K | |
| 2001-06-05 | Flash FloodGrayson, Carter County Streams, such as Star Creek, Norton Branch, Williams Creek, and Wilson Creek flooded. Twelve people were evacuated. About 40 to 50 homes and mobile homes were affected, some with just basement flooding. A barn was destroyed. A parked car was swept away near the junction of Route 60 and 207. A Rush resident said, "I've ... | 0 | 1 | $417K | |
| 1996-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindOlive Hill, Carter County A man was injuried at a cemetery along Route 182 when he triedto remove a tree branch that had fallen on his vehicle. | 0 | 1 | $6K | |
| 1995-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Carter County | 0 | 1 | $1.9M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-05-02 | FloodSoldier, Carter County | 0 | 0 | $14M | |
| 2010-07-20 | Flash FloodSoldier, Carter County | 1 | 0 | $6.8M | |
| 1997-03-01 | FloodCarter County · forecast zone Carter | 0 | 0 | $4.6M | |
| 2017-06-23 | Flash FloodBoone Furnace, Carter County | 0 | 0 | $2.8M | |
| 2003-02-16 | Ice StormCarter County · forecast zone Carter | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | |
| 1995-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Carter County | 0 | 1 | $1.9M | |
| 2003-05-05 | Flash FloodCountywide, Carter County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2015-04-03 | FloodDenton, Carter County | 0 | 0 | $1.5M |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 11, 1986 (tornado, Carter County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Carter County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 10 | 26 | 28 | 37 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 15 | 27 | 18 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 11 | 22 | 22 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 28 | 1 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 11 | 11 | 7 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Carter County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 46 · Feb 54 · Mar 42 · Apr 35 · May 56 · Jun 53 · Jul 32 · Aug 23 · Sep 20 · Oct 11 · Nov 10 · Dec 21 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Carter County
FEMA's register lists 37 declarations that include Carter County: 30 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (19) and flood (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3633 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-04-24 | DR-4864 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2025-04-03 | EM-3626 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2025-02-16 | EM-3624 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2024-11-26 | DR-4848 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-05-22 | DR-4782 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-05-09 | DR-4711 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2022-02-27 | DR-4643 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides |
| 2021-04-23 | DR-4595 | Flood | Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2021-03-31 | DR-4592 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-03-28 | DR-4497 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3469 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-04-17 | DR-4428 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2018-04-26 | DR-4361 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-08-12 | DR-4239 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide |
| 2015-05-12 | DR-4218 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-05-01 | DR-4217 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2011-05-04 | DR-1976 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2010-07-23 | DR-1925 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2010-05-11 | DR-1912 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes |
| 2009-02-05 | DR-1818 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| 2009-01-28 | EM-3302 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2007-05-25 | DR-1703 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Rockslides |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3231 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004-06-10 | DR-1523 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2003-07-02 | DR-1475 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes |
| 2003-06-03 | DR-1471 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1454 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and |
| 2002-04-04 | DR-1407 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1320 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1998-03-03 | DR-1207 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1997-03-04 | DR-1163 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1089 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1995-06-13 | DR-1055 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Severe Winds, Hail |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3104 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1989-02-24 | DR-821 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978-12-12 | DR-568 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Carter County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 101 flood or flash flood records for Carter County from 1996 to 2026, on 80 days, with 4 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Carter County ranks 555th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $9.0 million on 449 claims filed in Carter County; the most in one year was 105 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 12 · 1979: 2 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1989: 8 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 5 · 1993: 1 · 1997: 63 · 2000: 2 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 58 · 2003: 105 · 2004: 12 · 2006: 4 · 2008: 3 · 2010: 98 · 2011: 1 · 2012: 6 · 2015: 26 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 21 · 2018: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 7 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 3; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Carter County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Carter County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $14.2 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $46K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.9M | 4.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $10M | 2.4 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $106K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $48K | 8.7 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $139K | 49 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $715K | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $319K | 2.8 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Carter County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in KentuckyEvery Kentucky tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Floods in KentuckyThe state's floods and flash floods, by county, year and month
- The Kentucky recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Carter CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Carter County's FEMA declarations (CSV)37 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis