Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Storms, floods and disasters in Success
Success isn’t graded for hazard risk: Success has 92 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2008.
What Success 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.
Does Success flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2008
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Success, from FEMA’s records.
- The Late spring severe storms1 claim · $28K
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $65K
- The March storm1 claim · $5K
Success isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clay County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Success
Disasters that paid out in Success itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Success), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding32 households applied for aid$143K aid approved$92K to the Town of Success for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding23 households applied for aid$71K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$26K to the Town of Success for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$21K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$2K to the Town of Success for repairs
Clay County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Success after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Success archive →Get ready for what Success 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 Success
Does Success flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Success since 2008, $98K in all. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late spring severe storms (1).
Is Success 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 Clay County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Success?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Success’ 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 Success?
By FEMA money that reached Success, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2017): 32 households applied for aid, $143K approved, and $92K to the Town of Success for repairs. By flood claims, Late spring severe storms: 1 paid, $28K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Success.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Success’ 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.