Photo: Dean Sebourn · CC BY 2.0FEMA puts Doniphan’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Doniphan gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then earthquakes (23%). Flood insurance has paid 74 claims here since 1979.
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 Doniphan’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Doniphan 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
Earthquakes
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 Doniphan’s grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Doniphan, and Doniphan’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Doniphan’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Doniphan: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Doniphan flood? Sometimes: 74 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Doniphan, from FEMA’s records: 78.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March storm9 claims · $674K
- The Late spring severe storms7 claims · $889K
- The Mid-spring storms6 claims · $200K
Doniphan isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Ripley County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Doniphan
Disasters that paid out in Doniphan itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Doniphan), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding9 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires42 households applied for aid$91K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding110 households applied for aid$277K aid approved
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding177 households applied for aid$878K aid approved$222K to the City of Doniphan for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding76 households applied for aid$218K aid approved$55K to the City of Doniphan for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding9 households applied for aid$22K aid approved
Show all 8
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$30K to the City of Doniphan for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding62 households applied for aid$238K aid approved$35K to the City of Doniphan for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
Ripley County has had 19 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 Doniphan after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Doniphan archive →Get ready for what Doniphan 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Doniphan
Is Doniphan at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Doniphan has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and earthquakes (23%). 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 Doniphan flood?
Flood insurance has paid 74 claims in Doniphan since 1979, $2.4M in all, or 78.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March storm (9).
Is Doniphan 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 Ripley County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Doniphan?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Doniphan’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 Doniphan?
By FEMA money that reached Doniphan, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding (2017): 177 households applied for aid, $878K approved, and $222K to the City of Doniphan for repairs. By flood claims, March storm: 9 paid, $674K.
Is Doniphan at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Doniphan’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Doniphan.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Doniphan’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.