Photo: Nyttend · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Salyersville than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Salyersville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 123 claims here since 1978.
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 Salyersville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Salyersville 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.
What’s behind Salyersville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Salyersville, and Salyersville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 5%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Salyersville’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Salyersville: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Salyersville flood? Yes: 123 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Salyersville, from FEMA’s records: 135.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Heavy rains16 claims · $288K
- The Storm2 claims · $8K
Salyersville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Magoffin County.16 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Salyersville
Disasters that paid out in Salyersville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Salyersville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$238K to the City of Salyersville for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$155K to the City of Salyersville for repairs
- 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides255 households applied for aid$351K aid approved$72K to the City of Salyersville for repairs
- 2021Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides149 households applied for aid$321K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$351K to the City of Salyersville for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$260K to the City of Salyersville for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 16
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$27K to the City of Salyersville for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding710 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved$208K to the City of Salyersville for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes21 households applied for aid$45K aid approved
- 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding and Mudslides234 households applied for aid$408K aid approved$15K to the City of Salyersville for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$28K to the City of Salyersville for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides787 households applied for aid$2.4M aid approved$53K to the City of Salyersville for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes95 households applied for aid$279K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and99 households applied for aid$281K aid approved$28K to the City of Salyersville for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$35K to the City of Salyersville for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$47K to the City of Salyersville for repairs
Magoffin County has had 41 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Magoffin County, 2000–2001.
Old photos of Salyersville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Salyersville archive →Get ready for what Salyersville 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 Salyersville
Is Salyersville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Salyersville has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Salyersville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 123 claims in Salyersville since 1978, $1.0M in all, or 135.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 18 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Heavy rains (16).
Is Salyersville 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 Magoffin County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Salyersville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Salyersville’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 Salyersville?
By FEMA money that reached Salyersville, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides (2004): 787 households applied for aid, $2.4M approved, and $53K to the City of Salyersville for repairs. By flood claims, Heavy rains: 16 paid, $288K.
Is Salyersville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Salyersville’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Salyersville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Salyersville’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.