Storms, floods and disasters in Agency
Agency isn’t graded for hazard risk: Agency has 871 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1979.
What Agency 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
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.
Does Agency flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Agency, from FEMA’s records.
Agency isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Buchanan County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Agency
Disasters that paid out in Agency itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Agency), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding9 households applied for aid$38K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding20 households applied for aid$134K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
Buchanan County has had 22 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.
Old photos of Agency after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Agency archive →Get ready for what Agency 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.
- 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 Agency
Does Agency flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Agency since 1979, $455K in all. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Agency 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 Buchanan County, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Agency?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Agency’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 Agency?
By FEMA money that reached Agency, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 20 households applied for aid, $134K approved.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Agency.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Agency’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.