Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Town Creek than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Town Creek gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1983.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Town Creek faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Town Creek’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Town Creek, and Town Creek’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 3%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C− higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Town Creek’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $811K a year in losses across Town Creek: $449K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Town Creek flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Town Creek, from FEMA’s records: 6.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Town Creek isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lawrence County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Town Creek
Disasters that paid out in Town Creek itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Town Creek), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding435 households applied for aid$376K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Ivan4 households applied for aid$224 aid approved
Lawrence County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Old photos of Town Creek after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Town Creek archive →Get ready for what Town Creek faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Town Creek
Is Town Creek at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Town Creek has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and earthquakes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Town Creek flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Town Creek since 1983, $21K in all, or 6.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Town Creek in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Lawrence County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Town Creek?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Town Creek’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Town Creek?
By FEMA money that reached Town Creek, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2011): 435 households applied for aid, $376K approved.
Is Town Creek at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Town Creek’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Town Creek.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Town Creek’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.