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Natural hazards · Russell

Russell, KY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Russell comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 27 claims here since 1996. 11 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Russell?

60
High
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Russell to be higher than in 60% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding71%Heat waves15%Everything else15%
By hazard

What Russell faces

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

Inland flooding

71% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. places
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Heat waves

15% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 43% of U.S. places
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold 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 Russell flood?

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

27paid claims since 1996
$828Kpaid to owners
3homes flooded more than once
19962026

Biggest named events

  • Mid-spring storms: 4 claims, $146K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (3) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Russell isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Greenup County.
Disasters that hit Russell

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into RussellDeclared for Greenup County only
2024

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

14 households applied for aid $29K aid approved
2021

Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$124K to the City of Russell for repairs
2021

Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides

$37K to the City of Russell for repairs
2018

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$9K to the City of Russell for repairs
2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$14K to the City of Russell for repairs
2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes

2 households applied for aid $5K aid approved
2009

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$16K to the City of Russell for repairs
2003

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

6 households applied for aid $16K aid approved $6K to the City of Russell for repairs
2003

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

5 households applied for aid $2K aid approved $20K to the City of Russell for repairs
2002

Severe Storms and Flooding

$7K to the City of Russell for repairs
2000

Severe Storms and Flooding

$15K to the City of Russell for repairs
Greenup County has had 27 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.
Around Russell

Russell and the towns around it

Flatwoods: Low, mostly inland floodingBellefonte: High, mostly inland floodingIronton: Very high, mostly inland floodingUpper: Very high, mostly inland floodingRaceland: Moderate, mostly inland floodingWestwood: High, mostly inland floodingCoal Grove: Moderate, mostly inland floodingHanging Rock: Moderate, mostly inland floodingHamilton: Moderate, mostly inland floodingPerry: High, mostly inland floodingElizabeth: Moderate, mostly inland floodingLawrence: High, mostly inland floodingRussell: High, mostly inland flooding RussellFlatwoodsBellefonteIrontonUpper
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Irontonmostly inland floodingVery high
Uppermostly inland floodingVery high
Russellmostly inland floodingHigh
Bellefontemostly inland floodingHigh
Flatwoodsmostly 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. Russell covers 1 census tract, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Russell’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Russell. 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 Russell total about $2.0M 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.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01
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