On FEMA’s figures, Chinle faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chinle gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #35 of 140 in Arizona. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). 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 Chinle 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
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 Chinle’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chinle, and Chinle’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #35 of 140 in Arizona; higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chinle’s residents live in 2 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, Chinle has less expected damage per building than 76% of Arizona towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $851K a year in losses across Chinle: $674K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chinle flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Chinle. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Chinle isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Apache County.The storms Chinle remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for Apache County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Chinle itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Apache County has had 9 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 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Apache County, 2004–2025.
Get ready for what Chinle 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.
- 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 Chinle
Is Chinle at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chinle has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #35 of 140 in Arizona. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Chinle 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 Apache County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Chinle?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chinle’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Chinle at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Chinle’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chinle.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chinle’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.