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An In-Depth Look at Flood Risks in Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia

In the wake of devastating floods in early 2025, the Neptune Flood Research Group has unveiled a comprehensive analysis illustrating the escalating flood risks confronted by residents of Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. This report comes at a crucial time as areas in the Appalachian region grapple with amplified flood threats stemming from excessive rainfall, rugged landscapes, and deteriorating infrastructure.

The Current Landscape of Flooding

The recently released data unveils alarming trends that highlight the fragility of flood preparedness in these states. Key statistics include:

• - 2025 Flood: Resulting in 21 fatalities and over 1,100 claims filed under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
• - 2022 Eastern Kentucky Flood: Led to 44 deaths and damaged approximately 9,000 homes.
• - 2016 West Virginia Flood: Caused 23 deaths along with property damages exceeding $1.1 billion.
• - 2010 Nashville Flood: Resulted in 21 deaths and inflicted $2 billion in property losses.

Such significant loss of life and property starkly shines a light on the urgent need for proactive measures against future flooding.

Underestimating Flood Exposure

The report also sheds light on the disconnect between federal flood risk assessments and the reality on the ground. According to FEMA, around 365,000 buildings in the three states are classified as being in high-risk flood zones. However, the First Street Foundation estimates that nearly 950,000 properties are at significant risk—2.5 times higher than the official figures.

Falling Behind on Insurance Coverage

A most disturbing trend uncovered by the report is the sharp decline in flood insurance participation. An astonishing fact reveals that fewer than 1% of homes in the affected states have flood insurance. During the 2022 floods in Kentucky, a staggering 95% of the properties that suffered damage lacked any form of insurance coverage.

Moreover, from 2021 to 2024, the number of NFIP policies dropped by 17% in these states, leaving residents vulnerable during times of crisis. The analysis estimates that insured flood-related losses over the past two decades have exceeded $600 million—an inequality only compounded by a much larger pool of uninsured losses.

Economic Challenges and Rising Premiums

The financial implications of rising flood risks cannot be ignored. The NFIP's Risk Rating 2.0 has resulted in steep premium hikes, pushing many residents beyond affordable levels. Several counties within the affected region are facing premium increases of 200% and more, while some Appalachian counties are forced to allocate up to 9% of their household income just to cover these insurance premiums.

Trevor Burgess, CEO of Neptune Flood, emphasizes the urgency of addressing these challenges: "Millions of homes across the U.S. confront rising flood risks, yet many remain uninsured due to affordability issues and outdated flood maps. In Appalachia, insurance participation is rapidly declining while flood exposure is on the rise, illustrating the need for innovative private market solutions to bridge this protection gap."

The Future of Flood Insurance

In light of these findings, the report advocates not only for a reevaluation of existing flood risk assessment frameworks, but also for an expansion of private flood insurance options. Neptune Flood, the largest provider of private flood insurance in the U.S., aims to offer competitive alternatives to the NFIP, striving to close the existing protection gaps. With coverage expanding to nearly $100 billion across over 225,000 properties, Neptune Flood is poised to address the drastic need for adequate flood risk protection in these vulnerable states.

As communities continue to face the probability of increased flooding, proactive measures and educational initiatives regarding the importance of flood insurance must be prioritized. Individuals must be equipped with knowledge and resources to safeguard their homes and livelihoods against natural disasters that seem increasingly inevitable.