First Christian Church · Photo: rossograph · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Clinton than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clinton gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (54%), then river and rain flooding (20%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1981.
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 Clinton faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
Ice storms
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 Clinton’s grade
Earthquakes are 54% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clinton, and Clinton’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 13%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Clinton’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Clinton: $970K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clinton flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clinton, from FEMA’s records: 13.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Clinton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hickman County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Clinton
Disasters that paid out in Clinton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Clinton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Tornadoes36 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding8 households applied for aid$95K aid approved
Hickman County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Clinton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Clinton archive →Get ready for what Clinton faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Clinton
Is Clinton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clinton has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (54%) and river and rain flooding (20%). 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 Clinton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Clinton since 1981, $6K in all, or 13.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Clinton 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 Hickman County, 5% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Clinton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clinton’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 Clinton?
By FEMA money that reached Clinton, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2011): 8 households applied for aid, $95K approved.
Is Clinton at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (54%), and Clinton’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clinton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clinton’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.