Lee's Chapel Church and Masonic Hall · Photo: Kennethrorie · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Cave City faces more hazard damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cave City gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (46%), then ice storms (28%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Cave City 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
Ice storms
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 Cave City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 46% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cave City, and Cave City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 28%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cave City’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Cave City: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cave City flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Cave City. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Cave City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sharp County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cave City
Disasters that paid out in Cave City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cave City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$16K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms and Tornadoes70 households applied for aid$654K aid approved
- 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$2K to the City of Cave City for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$108K to the City of Cave City for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$40K to the City of Cave City for repairs
Sharp County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Cave City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cave City archive →Get ready for what Cave City 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.
- Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
- Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
- Keep sand or salt by the door.
- 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 Cave City
Is Cave City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cave City has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (46%) and ice storms (28%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Cave City 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 Sharp County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cave City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cave City’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 Cave City?
By FEMA money that reached Cave City, Severe Storms and Tornadoes (2025): 70 households applied for aid, $654K approved.
Is Cave City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (46%), and Cave City’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cave City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cave City’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.