Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Owingsville 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, Owingsville gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Owingsville 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 Owingsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Owingsville, and Owingsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 6% (higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Owingsville’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $517K a year in losses across Owingsville: $298K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Owingsville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Owingsville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Owingsville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bath County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Owingsville
Disasters that paid out in Owingsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Owingsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides19 households applied for aid$28K aid approved
- 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding18 households applied for aid$21K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes29 households applied for aid$105K aid approved$26K to the City of Owingsville for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and34 households applied for aid$61K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and$1K to the City of Owingsville for repairs
Bath County has had 25 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 Owingsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Owingsville archive →Get ready for what Owingsville 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 Owingsville
Is Owingsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Owingsville has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Owingsville 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 Bath County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Owingsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Owingsville’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 Owingsville?
By FEMA money that reached Owingsville, Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes (2010): 29 households applied for aid, $105K approved, and $26K to the City of Owingsville for repairs.
Is Owingsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Owingsville’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Owingsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Owingsville’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.