Photo: Richard N Horne · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Benson faces more hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Benson gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #115 of 140 in Arizona. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%), then wildfire (38%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2022.
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 Benson 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
Wildfire
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 Benson’s grade
River and rain flooding is 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Benson, and Benson’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 38%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #115 of 140 in Arizona; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Benson’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Arizona town has higher expected damage than 78% of U.S. towns; within the state, Benson has more expected damage per building than 82% of Arizona towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.0M a year in losses across Benson: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Benson flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2022
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Benson, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Benson isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cochise County.The storms Benson remembers
None of the 6 disasters declared for Cochise County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Benson itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20221 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Cochise County has had 6 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.
Also 5 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Cochise County, 2003–2017.
Old photos of Benson after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Benson archive →Get ready for what Benson 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Benson
Is Benson at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Benson has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #115 of 140 in Arizona. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%) and wildfire (38%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Benson flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Benson since 2022, $5K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Benson 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 Cochise County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Benson?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Benson’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Benson at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Benson’s rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Benson.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Benson’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.