FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT
Floods
As a naturally occurring phenomenon that can happen almost anywhere at any time, floods represent the highest regional threat in Northern Kentucky. At the most basic level, floods are defined as the accumulation of water over normally dry areas of land. Floods can be mild, leaving minor debris, and washing landscaping away, or severe wherein buildings and structures are damaged or destroyed. As an area with main watersheds, risk assessment is essential to prepare and mitigate the negative effects of flooding on the health of our populations.
Flood Risk Definitions: understanding flood zone terminology.
- Regulatory Floodway – a channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than a designated height. (FEMA)
- Special Floodway – an area of special consideration as designated by FEMA in regard to flooding.
- 1% Annual Chance of Flood Hazard – an area designated as having a 1 in 100 chance of a flood happening in any given year, meaning a flood could happen this year and again next year
- .2% Annual Chance of Flood Hazard – an area designated as having a 1 in 500 chance or (500-year flood), in any given year.
- River or Riverine Flooding – a high flow or overflow of water from a river or similar body of water, occurring over a period of time too long to be considered a flash flood.
- Flash Floods – are quick-rising floods that usually occur as the result of heavy rains over a short period of time, often only several hours or even less, and can occur anytime throughout the year, but mostly during summer months.
- Dam and Levee Failure Flooding – is potentially the worst flood event, occurring as a result of neglect, poor design, or structural damage caused by a major event such as an earthquake.
- Watershed Area – is a land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt to creeks, streams, and rivers.
Individual County Flood Risk and Vulnerabilities
Expand county detail content by clicking on the arrows to the left of the county name.
FLOOD RISK
According to the 2020 Census, Carroll County covers 128.57 sq miles with a population of 10,810. As a county bordering the Ohio River and incorporating the Kentucky River within its boundaries, Carroll County is at high risk for flooding. This is evidenced by FEMA’s 4 federal disaster declarations for flooding since 1953.|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Carrollton | 3,938 | 1.2 | 59% | 59% |
| City of Prestonville | 161 | .1 | 38% | 38% |
| City of Sanders | 238 | .3 | 100% | 100% |
| City of Worthville | 185 | .3 | 100% | 100% |
| Unincorporated areas of Carroll County | 5,996 | 134.1 | 51% | 51% |
Risk Profile/Vulnerabilities
| Location(s) | Areas near rivers, creeks, and stormwater drainage are most susceptible to flooding. |
| Number of events 2016-2021 | 15 |
| Annual rate of occurrence | 2.5 |
| Probability of Future Events | Highly Likely |
| Warning Time | River flooding – 3 to 5 days Flash flooding – minutes to several hours |
| Potential Impacts | Short-term impacts include those related to human life, health, and public safety including utility damages and outages, infrastructure damage (transportation and communication systems), structural damage, fire, damaged or destroyed critical facilities, and hazardous material releases. As a consequence of the short-term impacts, economic losses such as unemployment, decreased land values, and agribusiness as well as public safety issues due to contaminants and pollutants may also be experienced in the longer term. |
Flooding events January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2021
| Location | County/Zone | St. | Date | Time | T.Z. | Type | Mag | Dth | Inj | PrD | CrD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGLISH | CARROLL CO. | KY | 08/01/2016 | 12:20 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| CARROLLTON | CARROLL CO. | KY | 08/01/2016 | 12:20 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| EAGLE STATION | CARROLL CO. | KY | 04/29/2017 | 08:00 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| PRESTONVILLE | CARROLL CO. | KY | 05/20/2017 | 20:00 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| CARROLLTON | CARROLL CO. | KY | 05/24/2017 | 18:30 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| CARROLLTON | CARROLL CO. | KY | 02/24/2018 | 20:28 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| CARROLLTON | CARROLL CO. | KY | 09/09/2018 | 02:15 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| WORTHVILLE | CARROLL CO. | KY | 09/09/2018 | 02:15 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| EAGLE STATION | CARROLL CO. | KY | 09/09/2018 | 06:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| SANDERS | CARROLL CO. | KY | 09/09/2018 | 14:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| CARROLL CO. | CARROLL CO. | KY | 06/09/2019 | 20:43 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| EAGLE STATION | CARROLL CO. | KY | 02/28/2021 | 11:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| SANDERS | CARROLL CO. | KY | 02/28/2021 | 23:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 6.00K | 0.00K | |
| SANDERS | CARROLL CO. | KY | 03/01/2021 | 00:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| CARROLLTON | CARROLL CO. | KY | 06/18/2021 | 23:30 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
For details on each flooding event, click here to go to the NOAA website for flooding events in Carroll County Kentucky.
FLOOD RISK
According to the 2020 Census, Gallatin County covers 101.23 sq miles with a population of 8,775. As a county bordering the Ohio River, Gallatin County is at high risk for flooding. This is evidenced by FEMA’s 2 federal disaster declarations for flooding since 1953.|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Glencoe | 251 | .3 | 100% | 100% |
| City of Sparta | 230 | 2.4 | 100% | 100% |
| City of Warsaw | 1,884 | 1.03 | Currently being reviewed | Currently being reviewed |
| Unincorporated Areas | 6,297 | 21.5 | 21%% | 21% |
Risk Profile/Vulnerabilities
| Location(s) | Areas near rivers, creeks, and stormwater drainage are most susceptible to flooding. |
| Number of events 2016-2021 | 8 |
| Annual rate of occurrence | 1.3 |
| Probability of Future Events | Highly Likely |
| Warning Time | River flooding – 3 to 5 days Flash flooding – minutes to several hours |
| Potential Impacts | Short-term impacts include those related to human life, health, and public safety including utility damages and outages, infrastructure damage (transportation and communication systems), structural damage, fire, damaged or destroyed critical facilities, and hazardous material releases. As a consequence of the short-term impacts, economic losses such as unemployment, decreased land values, and agribusiness as well as public safety issues due to contaminants and pollutants may also be experienced in the longer term. |
Flooding events January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2021
| Location | County/Zone | St. | Date | Time | T.Z. | Type | Mag | Dth | Inj | PrD | CrD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETHRIDGE | GALLATIN CO. | KY | 05/24/2017 | 18:30 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| ETHRIDGE | GALLATIN CO. | KY | 05/24/2017 | 18:45 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| SPARTA | GALLATIN CO. | KY | 02/24/2018 | 20:35 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| SPARTA | GALLATIN CO. | KY | 09/09/2018 | 02:30 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| SPARTA | GALLATIN CO. | KY | 09/09/2018 | 12:30 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| WARSAW | GALLATIN CO. | KY | 02/07/2019 | 16:12 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| GLENCOE | GALLATIN CO. | KY | 02/28/2021 | 11:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 2.00K | 0.00K | |
| SUGAR BAY | GALLATIN CO. | KY | 02/28/2021 | 11:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 3.00K | 0.00K |
For details on each flooding event, click here to go to the NOAA website for flooding events in Gallatin County Kentucky.FLOOD RISK
According to the 2020 Census, Owen County covers 101.23 sq miles and has a population of 11,294. As a county with communities bordering the Kentucky River, Owen County is at risk for flooding. This is evidenced by FEMA’s 5 federal disaster declarations for flooding since 1953.|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Gratz | 89 | .3 | 100% | 100% |
| City of Monterey | 167 | .3 | 100% | 100% |
| City of Owenton | 1,327 | 1.1 | 100% | 100% |
| City of Sparta | 230 | 2.4 | 100% | 100% |
| Unincorporated Areas | 9,258 | 352.1 | 100% | 100% |
Risk Profile/Vulnerabilities
| Location(s) | Areas near rivers, creeks, and stormwater drainage are most susceptible to flooding. |
| Number of events 2016-2021 | 14 |
| Annual rate of occurrence | 2.3 |
| Probability of Future Events | Highly Likely |
| Warning Time | River flooding – 3 to 5 days Flash flooding – minutes to several hours |
| Potential Impacts | Short-term impacts include those related to human life, health, and public safety including utility damages and outages, infrastructure damage (transportation and communication systems), structural damage, fire, damaged or destroyed critical facilities, and hazardous material releases. As a consequence of the short-term impacts, economic losses such as unemployment, decreased land values, and agribusiness as well as public safety issues due to contaminants and pollutants may also be experienced in the longer term. |
Use the map below to see where your home/business lies in relation to watershed areas.
Flooding events January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2021
| Location | County/Zone | St. | Date | Time | T.Z. | Type | Mag | Dth | Inj | PrD | CrD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TERESITA | OWEN CO. | KY | 05/01/2016 | 15:40 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 1 | 0 | 50.00K | 0.00K | |
| CULL | OWEN CO. | KY | 06/23/2016 | 16:25 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| NEW | OWEN CO. | KY | 06/23/2016 | 16:45 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| HARMONY | OWEN CO. | KY | 06/23/2016 | 17:00 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| TERESITA | OWEN CO. | KY | 06/23/2016 | 17:00 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| NATLEE | OWEN CO. | KY | 06/23/2016 | 17:00 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| OWENTON | OWEN CO. | KY | 04/03/2018 | 20:00 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 3.00K | 0.00K | |
| POPLAR GROVE | OWEN CO. | KY | 05/22/2018 | 19:30 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.50K | 0.00K | |
| MOXLEY | OWEN CO. | KY | 09/09/2018 | 02:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| MOXLEY | OWEN CO. | KY | 09/09/2018 | 06:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| SQUIRESVILLE | OWEN CO. | KY | 09/24/2018 | 15:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| OWENTON | OWEN CO. | KY | 02/28/2021 | 11:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| PERRY PARK | OWEN CO. | KY | 03/04/2021 | 15:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 1 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| NEW LIBERTY | OWEN CO. | KY | 06/13/2021 | 16:00 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 30.00K | 0.00K |
For details on each flooding event, click here to go to the NOAA website for flooding events in Owen County Kentucky.
FLOOD RISK
According to the 2020 Census, Pendleton County covers 277.16 sq miles and has a population of 14,607. As a county with communities containing the Licking River, and bordering the Ohio River, Pendleton County is at risk for flooding. This is evidenced by FEMA’s 2 federal disaster declarations for flooding since 1953.|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Butler | 612 | .2 | 100% | 100% |
| City of Falmouth | 2,169 | 1 | 50% | 50% |
Risk Profile/Vulnerabilities
| Location(s) | Areas near rivers, creeks, and stormwater drainage are most susceptible to flooding. |
| Number of events 2016-2021 | 14 |
| Annual rate of occurrence | 2.3 |
| Probability of Future Events | Highly Likely |
| Warning Time | River flooding – 3 to 5 days Flash flooding – minutes to several hours |
| Potential Impacts | Short-term impacts include those related to human life, health, and public safety including utility damages and outages, infrastructure damage (transportation and communication systems), structural damage, fire, damaged or destroyed critical facilities, and hazardous material releases. As a consequence of the short-term impacts, economic losses such as unemployment, decreased land values, and agribusiness as well as public safety issues due to contaminants and pollutants may also be experienced in the longer term. |
Use the map below to see where your home/business lies in relation to watershed areas.
Flooding events January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2021
| Location | County/Zone | St. | Date | Time | T.Z. | Type | Mag | Dth | Inj | PrD | CrD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FALMOUTH | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 02/22/2018 | 08:42 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| MERIDIAN | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 09/08/2018 | 21:15 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| FOUR OAKS | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 09/09/2018 | 02:45 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| FALMOUTH | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 09/09/2018 | 06:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| KNOXVILLE | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 02/06/2019 | 13:28 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| DE MOSSVILLE | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 02/06/2019 | 13:28 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| LYNN | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 02/06/2019 | 13:28 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| PENDLETON CO. | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 06/17/2019 | 21:00 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 25.00K | 0.00K | |
| CALDWELL | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 05/24/2020 | 16:45 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| MERIDIAN | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 05/24/2020 | 17:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| FOUR OAKS | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 05/25/2020 | 14:30 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| HAYES | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 02/28/2021 | 11:00 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| GREENWOOD | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 04/28/2021 | 17:30 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| BUTLER | PENDLETON CO. | KY | 04/28/2021 | 17:30 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
For details on each flooding event, click here to go to the NOAA website for flooding events in Pendleton County Kentucky.Resources
Conclusion
It’s no surprise floods put many assets at risk. First and foremost are those impacting human life through injuries, and loss of loved ones. Second, are our many personal property and physical assets which we use in our daily lives. Third are the infrastructure assets which are the foundation upon which our communities thrive and are essential for sustaining life as we know it. Loss of these assets without the ability to recover puts families and communities at severe risk of collapse.
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
- Published: April 27, 2022
- Page reviewed/updated: August 10, 2023
