Natural hazards · Springfield

Springfield, KY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Springfield comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1992. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Springfield?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Springfield to be higher than in 50% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding44%Tornadoes23%Strong wind10%Cold waves6%Earthquakes6%Hail5%Everything else6%

By hazard

What Springfield faces

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

Inland flooding

44% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 59% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Tornadoes

23% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 59 years in the area

Strong wind

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 93% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places

Hail

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherHeat 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 Springfield flood?

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

9paid claims since 1992

$147Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19922026

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. Springfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Washington County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

7flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

1homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Springfield

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SpringfieldDeclared for Washington County only

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes

36 households applied for aid $115K aid approved

2003

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

4 households applied for aid $1K aid approved

Washington County has had 26 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. Springfield covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Springfield’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Springfield. 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 Springfield total about $1.7M 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.