Photo: Marine 69-71 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts New River’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New River gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #71 of 140 in Arizona. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%), then wildfire (23%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 2014.
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 New River 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 New River’s grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in New River, and New River’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 23%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #71 of 140 in Arizona; higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New River’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, New River has more expected damage per building than 50% of Arizona towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.5M a year in losses across New River: $7.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New River flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 2014
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New River, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
New River 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.The storms New River remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for its 2 counties shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching New River itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20214 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20142 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for its 2 counties
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 New River after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New River archive →New River and its neighbors
New River is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthem | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Cave Creek | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Phoenix | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 863 |
| 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 New River 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 New River
Is New River at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New River has higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #71 of 140 in Arizona. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and wildfire (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New River flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in New River since 2014, $152K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is New River 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 New River?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New River’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is New River at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and New River’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New River.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New River’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.