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–Not graded
Natural hazards in Waucoma · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Waucoma

Waucoma isn’t graded for hazard risk: Waucoma has 291 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2008.

Flood claims
5
paid since 2008 · $64K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Disasters paid out here
3
of 19 declared for its 2 counties
By hazard

What Waucoma 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

76%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

14%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 6 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Hail Ice storms Winter storms Lightning Earthquakes Wildfire Hurricanes Cold waves Heat waves top 3% 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 drought at 16% of Waucoma’s expected losses. Drought does 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 Waucoma flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 2008

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

Paid flood claims, by year
2008: 1 claim2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 3 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200820162021
20082026
Biggest named events
  • The Storm1 claim · $17K
5
paid claims since 2008
$64K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$13K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Fayette County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
1flood-prone property bought out and cleared
Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Waucoma

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

  1. 2016Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$17K to the City of Waucoma for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding15 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$20K to the City of Waucoma for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding7 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Waucomaits 2 counties only

Its 2 counties have had 19 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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Waucoma archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Waucoma 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Waucoma

Does Waucoma flood?

Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Waucoma since 2008, $64K in all. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Storm (1).

Is Waucoma 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 Fayette County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Waucoma?

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

By FEMA money that reached Waucoma, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2008): 15 households applied for aid, $34K approved, and $20K to the City of Waucoma for repairs. By flood claims, Storm: 1 paid, $17K.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Waucoma.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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