Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0

–Not graded

Natural hazards in Newton · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Newton

Newton isn’t graded for hazard risk: Newton has 479 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 25 claims here since 1994.

Flood claims

paid since 1994 · $547K

Flooded more than once

properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”

Disasters paid out here

of 13 declared for Baker County

By hazard

What Newton 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

78%of expected building damage

Well above average · in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Hurricanes

16%of expected building damage

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Smaller shares here

Tornadoes Strong wind Earthquakes Wildfire Hail Lightning Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides

FEMA models no building damage here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 12% of Newton’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Newton flood? Sometimes: 25 flood claims since 1994

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Newton, from FEMA’s records.

Paid flood claims, by year

199419982020

19942026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Alberto5 claims · $111K
The Early winter storms2 claims · $67K

paid claims since 1994

$547K

paid to owners

homes flooded more than once

$22K

average claim

Homes that flooded again and again

FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones are insured

of all homes are insured

No community discount

Newton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Baker County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

47flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

1flood-prone home bought out and moved

Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Newton

Disasters that paid out in Newton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Newton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

2018Hurricane Michael471 households applied for aid$343K aid approved$18K to the City of Newton for repairs
2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds15 households applied for aid$29K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
2007Severe Storms and Tornadoes62 households applied for aid$174K aid approved

Disasters declared, by decade

Paid out in NewtonBaker County only

Baker County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Were you here?

Old photos of Newton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Newton archive →

Be ready

Get ready for what Newton faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises

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.

Questions about natural hazards in Newton

Does Newton flood?

Flood insurance has paid 25 claims in Newton since 1994, $547K in all. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Alberto (5).

Is Newton 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 Baker County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Newton?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Newton’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 Newton?

By FEMA money that reached Newton, Hurricane Michael (2018): 471 households applied for aid, $343K approved, and $18K to the City of Newton for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Alberto: 5 paid, $111K.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Newton.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Newton’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.

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