Photo: Ryan Emmick · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Hawesville faces more hazard damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hawesville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2025.
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 Hawesville 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
Earthquakes
Hail
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 Hawesville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hawesville, and Hawesville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 6%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Hawesville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $774K a year in losses across Hawesville: $641K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hawesville flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2025
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hawesville, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $16K
Hawesville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hancock County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Hawesville
Disasters that paid out in Hawesville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hawesville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides5 households applied for aid$3K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Hancock County has had 19 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 Hawesville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hawesville archive →Get ready for what Hawesville 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Hawesville
Is Hawesville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hawesville has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and earthquakes (9%). 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 Hawesville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Hawesville since 2025, $16K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Central U.S. April Flooding (1).
Is Hawesville 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 Hancock County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hawesville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hawesville’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 Hawesville?
By FEMA money that reached Hawesville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 5 households applied for aid, $3K approved. By flood claims, Central U.S. April Flooding: 1 paid, $16K.
Is Hawesville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Hawesville’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hawesville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hawesville’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.