Natural hazards · Dayton

Dayton, KY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Dayton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 76 claims here since 1978. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Dayton?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Dayton to be higher than in 78% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding68%Tornadoes13%Cold waves8%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Dayton faces

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

Inland flooding

68% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

13% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Cold waves

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 62% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Dayton flood?

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

76paid claims since 1978

$2.1Mpaid to owners

4homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Not a named storm: 15 claims, $16K
Central U.S. April Flooding: 5 claims, $303K
February Kentucky Flooding: 1 claim, $56K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (4) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Campbell County.

Disasters that hit Dayton

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into DaytonDeclared for Campbell County only

2018

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$5K to the City of Dayton for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$17K to the City of Dayton for repairs

2008

Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike

$27K to the City of Dayton for repairs

Campbell County has had 14 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and winter storms.

Around Dayton

Dayton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Daytonmostly inland floodingHigh

Bellevuemostly inland floodingLow

Fort Thomasmostly inland floodingLow

Cincinnatimostly inland floodingLow

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. Dayton covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.

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

FEMA’s expected losses across Dayton total about $1.9M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

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.