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–Not graded
Natural hazards in Madison · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Madison

Madison isn’t graded for hazard risk: Madison has 925 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2025.

Flood claims
1
paid since 2025 · $13K
Disasters paid out here
4
of 22 declared for Greenwood County
By hazard

What Madison 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

46%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Wildfire

26%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts

Ice storms

18%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Strong wind top 4% Hail Winter storms top 3% Earthquakes Lightning Cold waves Heat waves top 1% Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingHurricanesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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 Madison flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2025

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

Paid flood claims, by year
2025: 1 claim2026: 0 claims2025
20252026
1
paid claims since 2025
$13K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$13K
average claim
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Greenwood County.
Disasters

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Madison

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

  1. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$28K to the City of Madison for repairs
  2. 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes$90K to the City of Madison for repairs
  3. 2005Severe Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and Flooding$6K to the City of Madison for repairs
  4. 2002Severe Winter Ice Storm$2K to the City of Madison for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in MadisonGreenwood County only

Greenwood County has had 22 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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Madison archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Madison 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 ↗
Wildfire
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Ice storms
  • Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
  • Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
  • Keep sand or salt by the door.
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 Madison

Does Madison flood?

Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Madison since 2025, $13K in all.

Is Madison 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 Greenwood County, 0.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.

How much is flood insurance in Madison?

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

By FEMA money that reached Madison, Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes (2009): $90K to the City of Madison for repairs.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Madison.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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