Storms, floods and disasters in Elma
Elma isn’t graded for hazard risk: Elma has 659 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2016.
What Elma 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
Tornadoes
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.
Does Elma flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 2016
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elma, from FEMA’s records.
Elma isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Howard County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Elma
Disasters that paid out in Elma itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Elma), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding$35K to the City of Elma for repairs
- 2016Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$66K to the City of Elma for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$21K to the City of Elma for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding17 households applied for aid$24K aid approved$23K to the City of Elma for repairs
- 2007Severe Winter Storms$6K to the City of Elma for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$491 aid approved$24K to the City of Elma for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Severe Storms and Flooding$27K to the City of Elma for repairs
Howard County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Elma after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elma archive →Get ready for what Elma 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Elma
Does Elma flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Elma since 2016, $26K in all.
Is Elma 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 Howard County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Elma?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elma’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 Elma?
By FEMA money that reached Elma, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2016): $66K to the City of Elma for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elma.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elma’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.