Photo: Marine 69-71 · CC BY-SA 4.0Cave Creek’s building-damage rate from wildfire is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cave Creek gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #39 of 140 in Arizona. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then wildfire (18%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2007.
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 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
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 Cave Creek’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cave Creek, and Cave Creek’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 18%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #39 of 140 in Arizona; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cave Creek’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, Cave Creek has less expected damage per building than 73% of Arizona towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.8M a year in losses across Cave Creek: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cave Creek flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2007
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cave Creek, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Cave 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: Maricopa County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Cave Creek
Disasters that paid out in Cave Creek itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Cave Creek), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$37K to the Town of Cave Creek for repairs
Its 2 counties have had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 11 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in its 2 counties, 2005–2024.
Old photos of Cave Creek after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cave Creek archive →Cave Creek and its neighbors
Cave Creek is 2nd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carefree | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Cave Creek | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Phoenix | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 863 |
| Scottsdale | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 148 |
| New River | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Cave 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.
- 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 Cave Creek
Is Cave Creek at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cave Creek has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #39 of 140 in Arizona. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and wildfire (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cave Creek flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Cave Creek since 2007, $87K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Cave 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 Maricopa County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cave Creek?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cave 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 Cave Creek?
By FEMA money that reached Cave Creek, Severe Storms and Flooding (2014): $37K to the Town of Cave Creek for repairs.
Is Cave Creek at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Cave Creek’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cave Creek.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cave 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.