Natural hazards · Carlisle

Carlisle, KY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Carlisle comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 13 claims here since 1997. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Carlisle?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Carlisle to be higher than in 73% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding72%Tornadoes9%Strong wind8%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Carlisle faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

72% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 23 years in the area

Strong wind

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 91% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Carlisle flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Carlisle, from FEMA’s records.

13paid claims since 1997

$1.4Mpaid to owners

3homes flooded more than once

19972026

Biggest named events

Mid-spring storms: 1 claim, $1K
Heavy rains: 1 claim, $33K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Carlisle isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Nicholas County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

4storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Carlisle

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Carlisle itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Carlisle.

Brought FEMA money into CarlisleDeclared for Nicholas County only

2015

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

1 household applied for aid

2015

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$5K to the City of Carlisle for repairs

2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$24K to the City of Carlisle for repairs

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes

22 households applied for aid $79K aid approved

2009

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$10K to the City of Carlisle for repairs

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

$13K to the City of Carlisle for repairs

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and

18 households applied for aid $50K aid approved $8K to the City of Carlisle for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides

1 household applied for aid $777 aid approved

2003

Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and

36 households applied for aid $32K aid approved $41K to the City of Carlisle for repairs

Nicholas County has had 28 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and winter storms.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Carlisle is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Carlisle’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Carlisle. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.