Johnson County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21115 · population 22,621 · 262 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 453 records for Johnson County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 269 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (191 records). The deadliest single record is the July 13, 2015 flash flood: 4 deaths, 15 injuries and $4.4 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 48 declarations naming the county since 1967, 46 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
- 453on 269 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 624 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $31Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 48latest 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 Johnson County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 191 since 1970. 48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1970 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 | 191 | 107 | 1970-2025 | 0 | 2 | $1.1M | 37 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 90 | 68 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $28K | 33 of 118 |
| Floods | 68 | 44 | 1998-2025 | 4 | 15 | $16M | 46 of 118 |
| Hail | 58 | 34 | 1992-2025 | 0 | 0 | $7K | 43 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 17 | 17 | 1996-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 8 | 8 | 2006-2024 | 0 | 0 | $44K | 71 of 118 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 5 | 4 | 2010-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 26 of 118 |
| Drought | 4 | 4 | 2016-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 118 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 54 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 3 | 1990-2013 | 2 | 7 | $13M | 96 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2010-2019 | 0 | 0 | $12K | 55 of 118 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2021-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 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 Johnson County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Johnson County from 1990 to 2013, the strongest rated EF3, with 2 deaths and 7 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 4 tornadoes whose track touched Johnson County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 12 people, 2 of them in Johnson County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-03-02 16:39, as SPC files it | West LibertyCrossed KY, WV | EF3 | 84.99 mi | 10 |
| 2012-03-02 17:50, as SPC files it | Salyersville to WarfieldCrossed KY, WV | EF3 | 49.04 mi | 2 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Johnson County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-06-09 | Lowmansville, Johnson County | EF0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-03-02 | Keaton, Johnson County | EF1 2.9 mi x 1,312 yd | 0 | 0 | $32K |
| 2012-03-02 | Asa, Johnson County | EF3 14.43 mi x 1,312 yd | 2 | 7 | $13M |
| 1990-06-02 | Johnson County | F1 1 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K 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 Johnson County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 18, 2025 thunderstorm wind (1 injury and $16,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A large tree limb (5 to 6 inches in diameter) crashed through the roof of a mobile home on Witten Lane in the Wittensville community, striking a female who was lying in bed. The limb caused a deep laceration in her leg, and she was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1303742)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-18 | Thunderstorm WindWittensville, Johnson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $16K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindSitka, Johnson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindVolga, Johnson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-08 | HailKeaton, Johnson County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-08 | HailBoons Camp, Johnson County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-02 | HailLowmansville, Johnson County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-04 | Flash FloodDawkins, Johnson County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-04-03 | Thunderstorm WindTutor Key, Johnson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-01-19 | Heavy SnowJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-05 | Winter StormJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2018-07-04 | Thunderstorm WindThelma, Johnson County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $12K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-07-13 | Flash FloodFlatgap, Johnson County Flash flooding occurred in the Redbush and Flatgap communities, with devastating flooding occurring along Big Mudlick Creek and Ramey Branch. Four fatalities occurred and over 50 swift water rescues were performed in this area. Entire double wide houses were seen floating down Big Mudlick Creek and getting forced ... | 4 | 15 | $4.4M | |
| 2012-03-02 | TornadoAsa, Johnson County A damage survey team from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Jackson, Kentucky determined that an EF-3 tornado tracked across central Johnson County on March 2, 2012. The tornado had a path width of about 3/4 of a mile and estimated maximum wind speeds of 160 mph. The tornado crossed into Johnson County ... | EF3 14.43 mi x 1,312 yd | 2 | 7 | $13M |
| 2025-12-18 | Thunderstorm WindWittensville, Johnson County A large tree limb (5 to 6 inches in diameter) crashed through the roof of a mobile home on Witten Lane in the Wittensville community, striking a female who was lying in bed. The limb caused a deep laceration in her leg, and she was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $16K |
| 2000-06-15 | Thunderstorm WindWittensville, Johnson County Strong thunderstorm winds brought a tree down onto a car. The driver was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. | 0 | 1 | $3K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-03-02 | TornadoAsa, Johnson County | EF3 14.43 mi x 1,312 yd | 2 | 7 | $13M |
| 2015-07-13 | Flash FloodFlatgap, Johnson County | 4 | 15 | $4.4M | |
| 2014-08-22 | Flash FloodFlatgap, Johnson County | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | |
| 1998-06-10 | Flash FloodCountywide, Johnson County | 0 | 0 | $905K | |
| 2003-02-16 | FloodJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | $861K | |
| 2018-07-04 | Thunderstorm WindPaintsville, Johnson County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $71K |
| 2012-03-02 | TornadoKeaton, Johnson County | EF1 2.9 mi x 1,312 yd | 0 | 0 | $32K |
| 2025-12-18 | Thunderstorm WindWittensville, Johnson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $16K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 2, 1990 (tornado, Johnson 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 Johnson 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 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 61 | 84 | 27 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 23 | 43 | 18 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 25 | 35 | 5 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 29 | 18 | 4 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 3 | 3 | 10 | 1 |
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 1970 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 39 · Feb 52 · Mar 36 · Apr 44 · May 65 · Jun 85 · Jul 50 · Aug 28 · Sep 7 · Oct 13 · Nov 7 · Dec 27 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Johnson County
FEMA's register lists 48 declarations that include Johnson County: 39 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 2 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (23) and flood (11).
| 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 |
| 2023-05-09 | DR-4711 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-04-10 | DR-4702 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2022-07-29 | DR-4663 | Flood | Severe Storms, 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 |
| 2020-04-24 | DR-4540 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, 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 |
| 2018-04-12 | DR-4358 | Flood | Severe Storms, 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 |
| 2014-09-30 | DR-4196 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2012-03-06 | DR-4057 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
| 2011-05-04 | DR-1976 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2003-03-14 | 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 |
| 2001-11-02 | FM-2386 | Fire | Ky - Eastern Fire Complex - 11/02/2001 |
| 2001-08-15 | DR-1388 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2000-11-04 | FM-2350 | Fire | Ky - Eastern District Fire Complex - 11/03/00 |
| 2000-02-28 | DR-1320 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1998-04-29 | DR-1216 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes,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 |
The 40 most recent of 48 are listed; the CSV has every one.
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 Johnson County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 68 flood or flash flood records for Johnson County from 1998 to 2025, on 44 days, with 4 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Johnson County ranks 733rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $5.2 million on 309 claims filed in Johnson County; the most in one year was 84 in 1984. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 4 · 1979: 2 · 1980: 1 · 1981: 2 · 1982: 2 · 1984: 84 · 1986: 1 · 1988: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 3 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 21 · 2004: 23 · 2005: 2 · 2006: 4 · 2007: 1 · 2009: 4 · 2011: 4 · 2012: 2 · 2014: 19 · 2015: 27 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 30 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 37 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2025: 13; 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 Johnson County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Johnson County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $20.5 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 | $39K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $18M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $75K | 15 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $204K | once in about 138 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $407K | 2.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $133K | 50 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $118K | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $394K | about once 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 Johnson 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 Johnson CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Johnson County's FEMA declarations (CSV)48 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis