Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Silver Grove as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Silver Grove gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then tornadoes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 120 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 Silver Grove’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Silver Grove 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 Silver Grove’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Silver Grove, and Silver Grove’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 15%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Silver Grove’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $366K a year in losses across Silver Grove: $237K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Silver Grove flood? Yes: 120 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Silver Grove, from FEMA’s records: 203.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Central U.S. April Flooding7 claims · $117K
Silver Grove is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Campbell County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Silver Grove
Disasters that paid out in Silver Grove itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Silver Grove), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$11K to the City of Silver Grove for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$11K to the City of Silver Grove for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$6K to the City of Silver Grove for repairs
- 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike$14K to the City of Silver Grove for repairs
Campbell County has had 12 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 Silver Grove after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Silver Grove archive →Silver Grove and its neighbors
Silver Grove is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Spring | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Silver Grove | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 120 |
| Melbourne | — | 627 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Silver Grove 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.
- Silver Grove residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Silver Grove
Is Silver Grove at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Silver Grove has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (15%). 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 Silver Grove flood?
Flood insurance has paid 120 claims in Silver Grove since 1978, $1.0M in all, or 203.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Central U.S. April Flooding (7).
Is Silver Grove 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 Campbell County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Silver Grove?
Silver Grove is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Silver Grove?
By FEMA money that reached Silver Grove, Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike (2008): $14K to the City of Silver Grove for repairs. By flood claims, Central U.S. April Flooding: 7 paid, $117K.
Is Silver Grove at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Silver Grove’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Silver Grove.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Silver Grove’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.