Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Storms, floods and disasters in Martin
Martin isn’t graded for hazard risk: Martin has 494 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 254 claims here since 1978.
What Martin 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
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.
Does Martin flood? Yes: 254 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Martin, from FEMA’s records.
- The Storm36 claims · $1.1M
- The February Kentucky Flooding6 claims · $606K
Martin isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Floyd County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Martin
Disasters that paid out in Martin itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Martin), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides103 households applied for aid$812K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides84 households applied for aid$232K aid approved$173K to the City of Martin for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides52 households applied for aid$133K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$42K to the City of Martin for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$4K to the City of Martin for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding and Mudslides175 households applied for aid$540K aid approved$453K to the City of Martin for repairs
Show all 11
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$23K to the City of Martin for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides74 households applied for aid$90K aid approved$20K to the City of Martin for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes25 households applied for aid$35K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and75 households applied for aid$222K aid approved$175K to the City of Martin for repairs
- 2001Severe Storms and Flooding$64K to the City of Martin for repairs
Floyd County has had 39 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.
Also 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Floyd County, 1999–2001.
Old photos of Martin after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Martin archive →Get ready for what Martin 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.
- 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 Martin
Does Martin flood?
Flood insurance has paid 254 claims in Martin since 1978, $4.3M in all. 28 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Storm (36).
Is Martin 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 Floyd County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Martin?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Martin’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 Martin?
By FEMA money that reached Martin, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding and Mudslides (2009): 175 households applied for aid, $540K approved, and $453K to the City of Martin for repairs. By flood claims, Storm: 36 paid, $1.1M.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Martin.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Martin’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.