LOUISVILLE, Ky — A new report this week shows hundreds of thousands of homes, roads and infrastructure across Kentucky are at risk of damage.

Flooding is nothing new to homeowners living along the Ohio River. 

Timothy Brown, a homeowner on Juniper Beach in Louisville, recalls the heavy flooding he and his neighbors experienced this past spring.

"We’ve had anywhere from 16 inches to five feet in the lower level of the previous house," explains Brown.

When it comes to the looming threat brought on by heavy rainfall this close to their homes, the 66-year-old says to live this close to the water is to go with the flow.

"It’s always in the calculation but you know floods happen I mean they do. The climate is never going to be stable, it’s always going to change, it’s changed since the earth was created and we’ll have periods of flood," said Brown.

According to analysis by the nonprofit First Street Foundation, nearly 249 thousand properties across the Commonwealth have a greater than 26% chance of being affected by flooding. 

Nationally, According to the flood tracking website First Street, over the next 30 years flood risk to residential properties is expected to increase by 10%. 

"It’s the price you pay or the taxes you pay to live here the rest of the year. It’s always cooler in the summer of course cooler in the winter with the winds coming across," adds Brown.

Brown’s lot does indeed fall into a major flood risk category, ranked by First Street’s Flood Factor Tool as a 6 out of 10 on their flood scale.

"I worry about Jan., February, March and April maybe by the time derby hits I don’t really think about it anymore," explains Brown.

Andrea Schoettmer is a service hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Louisville.

She says she is not surprised by the report, as she has noticed an increase in flooding events as well. 

Experts say that the state’s topography is driving the increase in the number of precipitation events.

"As the rain hits the ground it's not able to be absorbed quickly and efficiently and it runs off into our area creeks and streams. And when that happens the water levels and flooding is the result," explains Schoettmer.

According to the report, Louisville is still at a moderate flood risk and the city’s roads, and infrastructure are at a major risk.

The Bluegrass State is also one of the four most at risk states for floods, along with Florida, Louisiana, and West Virginia.

"Whenever we have more urbanization we have more asphalt and black top areas and that again increases runoff and makes the ground not able to absorb and vegetation not able to absorb the rainfall as it hits the ground," said Schoettmer.

As a result, Brown and his wife have a plan in place to withstand flooding conditions as they begin the construction on their new home.

"That’s why we’re building it up high. We’re going to be three to five feet above the 100 year plain when I’m done. I think we can handle anything that’s going to come," suggests Brown.

Overall, experts say it's important that homeowners be aware of their overall flood risk moving forward with more heavy rainfall events likely.

"Have multiple ways to get flood and flash flood warnings wherever you live whether that’s through TV media or NOAA weather radio always have that warning source available to you," explains Schoettmer.

Our Spectrum News 1 meteorologists team confirms that Louisville is experiencing more precipitation annually by 7%. 

The flood report features an interactive map, where anyone can search their city, ZIP code, or state to see the flood risk.