Greenup County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21089 · population 35,905 · 344 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 517 records for Greenup County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 366 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (181 records). The deadliest single record is the December 16, 2019 flood: 1 death and $29,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 33 declarations naming the county since 1967, 31 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
- 517on 366 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 27 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $61Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 5strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 33latest 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 Greenup County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 181 since 1957. 48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 181 | 106 | 1957-2026 | 1 | 0 | $1.9M | 75 of 118 |
| Floods | 94 | 75 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $24M | 27 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 62 | 61 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | 55 of 118 |
| Hail | 60 | 37 | 1976-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | 67 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 30 | 30 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $602K | 24 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 30 | 30 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 1 | $189K | 24 of 118 |
| Heat | 20 | 20 | 1997-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 of 118 |
| Drought | 19 | 19 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 11 | 11 | 1998-2009 | 0 | 0 | $14K | 21 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 5 | 5 | 1968-2024 | 0 | 5 | $32M | 91 of 118 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2011-2017 | 0 | 1 | $32K | 23 of 118 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2012-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 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 Greenup County had?
NOAA records 5 tornadoes in Greenup County from 1968 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 5 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 7 tornadoes whose track touched Greenup County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 5: 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.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968-04-23 14:55, as SPC files it | South Shore | F3 | 0.1 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Greenup County (5)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-02 | Greenup County | EF1 6.77 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2022-05-26 | Load, Greenup County | EF1 0.82 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 1998-05-24 | Kehoe, Greenup County | F0 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $27K |
| 1980-07-12 | Greenup County | F2 23 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1968-04-23 | Greenup County | F3 | 0 | 5 | $2.5M 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 Greenup County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 22, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,500 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindArgillite, Greenup County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindWorthington, Greenup County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindYork, Greenup County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindLynn, Greenup County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindSouth Portsmouth, Greenup County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-27 | Flash FloodLimeville, Greenup County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-27 | Flash FloodBeechy, Greenup County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-24 | FloodLynn, Greenup County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtGreenup County · forecast zone Greenup | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Strong WindGreenup County · forecast zone Greenup | 32 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindGreenup County · forecast zone Greenup | 36 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2026-03-02 | Winter WeatherGreenup County · forecast zone Greenup | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-12-16 | FloodHunnewell, Greenup County Multiple roads were closed due to flooding, including State Route 1 and 784 due to flooding along Lost Creek and Three Prong Branch. A vehicle drove into the high water along State Route 1, but the driver was able to self rescue and was not injured. Route 503 was closed due to high water on Culp Creek. Tygarts Creek ... | 1 | 0 | $29K | |
| 2007-08-16 | Thunderstorm WindFlatwoods, Greenup County Behind the initial severe thunderstorms, winds remained gusty in training thunderstorms and showers. A tree fell onto the cab of a pickup truck traveling on Happy Ridge Road. The 35 year old male driver was killed. | 40 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $7K |
| 1968-04-23 | TornadoGreenup County | F3 | 0 | 5 | $2.5M step |
| 2018-11-06 | Strong WindGreenup County · forecast zone Greenup A cold front crossed the middle Ohio River Valley and central Appalachians early on the the 6th. In the wake of its passage, strong wind gusts lingered in the region for most of the day. This resulted in a tree falling on a woman in Greenup County around noon, causing her to be hospitalized due to injuries. A nearby ... | 27 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $588 |
| 2011-09-14 | LightningLloyd, Greenup County A fire to an outbuilding was ignited when lightning hit an antenna. A Lloyd firefighter was then injured due to his close proximity to another lightning strike. He was having hearing problems. He was treated at a hospital and released. | 0 | 1 | $7K |
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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-05-02 | FloodSouth Shore, Greenup County | 0 | 0 | $4.7M | |
| 1996-07-31 | Flash FloodCountywide, Greenup County | 0 | 0 | $4.7M | |
| 2024-04-02 | TornadoGreenup County | EF1 6.77 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 1997-03-02 | Flash FloodCountywide, Greenup County | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2000-02-18 | Flash FloodCountywide, Greenup County | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2002-03-20 | FloodGreenup County · forecast zone Greenup | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 2011-09-14 | HailLloyd, Greenup County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $984K |
| 2012-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindSouth Shore, Greenup County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $964K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 23, 1968 (tornado, Greenup County); July 12, 1980 (tornado, Greenup 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 Greenup 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 22 | 57 | 87 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 21 | 27 | 40 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 11 | 24 | 22 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 18 | 31 | 2 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 11 | 11 | 7 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 5 | 9 | 15 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 47 · Feb 53 · Mar 54 · Apr 54 · May 69 · Jun 68 · Jul 61 · Aug 20 · Sep 26 · Oct 19 · Nov 16 · Dec 30 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Greenup County
FEMA's register lists 33 declarations that include Greenup County: 26 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (17) and flood (5).
| 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 |
| 2025-02-24 | DR-4860 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 2024-07-23 | DR-4804 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2024-05-22 | DR-4782 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 2015-05-12 | DR-4218 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2011-05-04 | DR-1976 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3104 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1989-02-24 | DR-821 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1968-05-04 | DR-237 | Tornado | Tornadoes & Severe Storms |
| 1967-03-27 | DR-226 | 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 Greenup County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 94 flood or flash flood records for Greenup County from 1996 to 2026, on 75 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Greenup County ranks 410th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $10.8 million on 713 claims filed in Greenup County; the most in one year was 93 in 1997. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 18 · 1979: 12 · 1982: 8 · 1985: 1 · 1986: 1 · 1987: 1 · 1989: 4 · 1990: 6 · 1991: 2 · 1993: 5 · 1994: 25 · 1995: 2 · 1996: 25 · 1997: 93 · 1998: 10 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 46 · 2001: 5 · 2002: 32 · 2003: 46 · 2004: 48 · 2005: 21 · 2007: 10 · 2008: 22 · 2009: 10 · 2010: 25 · 2011: 34 · 2012: 3 · 2013: 11 · 2014: 6 · 2015: 23 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 37 · 2019: 23 · 2020: 18 · 2021: 27 · 2022: 14 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 13 · 2025: 20; 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 Greenup County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Greenup County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $15.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.4M | 4.3 modeled event-days a year |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $27K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $11M | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $123K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $210K | 49 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $501K | 2.4 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $54K | 8.5 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $841K | once in about 9 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Greenup 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
- Severe thunderstorm wind in KentuckyThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, 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 Greenup CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Greenup County's FEMA declarations (CSV)33 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis