Wigwam Village #6 · Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainFEMA puts Holbrook’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holbrook gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #18 of 140 in Arizona. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1993.
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 stands out about Holbrook’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Holbrook 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
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 Holbrook’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Holbrook, and Holbrook’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts).
B #18 of 140 in Arizona; lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Holbrook’s residents live in 3 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, Holbrook has less expected damage per building than 88% of Arizona towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Holbrook: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Holbrook flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Holbrook, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Holbrook is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Navajo County.The storms Holbrook remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for Navajo County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Holbrook itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19931 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, declared for Navajo County
- 19971 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Navajo County has 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 5 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Navajo County, 1999–2006.
Old photos of Holbrook after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Holbrook archive →Get ready for what Holbrook 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.
- 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.
- Holbrook residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Holbrook
Is Holbrook at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holbrook has lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #18 of 140 in Arizona. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Holbrook flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Holbrook since 1993, $4K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Holbrook 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 Navajo County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Holbrook?
Holbrook is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Holbrook at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Holbrook’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Holbrook.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Holbrook’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.