Photo: Brian Hall · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Rossville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rossville gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then tornadoes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 107 claims here since 1982.
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 stands out about Rossville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rossville 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.
What’s behind Rossville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rossville, and Rossville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 11% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Rossville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $553K a year in losses across Rossville: $355K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rossville flood? Yes: 107 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rossville, from FEMA’s records: 213.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Rossville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Shawnee County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rossville
Disasters that paid out in Rossville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rossville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2009Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm$2K to the City of Rossville for repairs
- 2007Severe Winter Storms$5K to the City of Rossville for repairs
Shawnee County has had 13 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 Rossville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rossville archive →Get ready for what Rossville 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 Rossville
Is Rossville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rossville has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and tornadoes (11%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rossville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 107 claims in Rossville since 1982, $1.2M in all, or 213.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Rossville 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 Shawnee County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rossville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rossville’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 Rossville?
By FEMA money that reached Rossville, Severe Winter Storms (2007): $5K to the City of Rossville for repairs.
Is Rossville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Rossville’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rossville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rossville’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.