Natural hazards · Providence

Providence, KY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Providence comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1994. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Providence?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Providence to be higher than in 77% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding34%Earthquakes24%Tornadoes10%Strong wind9%Ice storms6%Everything else16%

By hazard

What Providence faces

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

Inland flooding

34% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

24% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. places

Tornadoes

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 22 years in the area

Strong wind

9% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Ice storms

6% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesLightningDrought

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 Providence flood?

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

1paid claims since 1994

$613paid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19942026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Webster County.

Disasters that hit Providence

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into ProvidenceDeclared for Webster County only

2025

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

12 households applied for aid $56K aid approved $47K to the City of Providence for repairs

2016

Severe Storm, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$19K to the City of Providence for repairs

2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

2 households applied for aid

2009

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$359K to the City of Providence for repairs

2008

Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike

$17K to the City of Providence for repairs

2004

Severe Winter Storm and Record Snow

$5K to the City of Providence for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides

17 households applied for aid $10K aid approved $19K to the City of Providence for repairs

2003

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes

2 households applied for aid $2K aid approved

2002

Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

$1.5M to the City of Providence for repairs

Webster County has had 21 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. Providence 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 Providence’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Providence. 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.