Photo: Drowzy at English Wikipedia · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Piedmont than in 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Piedmont gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then earthquakes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 65 claims here since 1982.
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 Piedmont’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Piedmont 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 Piedmont’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Piedmont, and Piedmont’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 5%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D− higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Piedmont’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Piedmont: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Piedmont flood? Sometimes: 65 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Piedmont, from FEMA’s records: 51.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March storm31 claims · $1.1M
- The Mid-spring storms3 claims · $31K
Piedmont isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wayne County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Piedmont
Disasters that paid out in Piedmont itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Piedmont), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding8 households applied for aid$139K aid approved$113K to the City of Piedmont for repairs
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires96 households applied for aid$601K aid approved
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding42 households applied for aid$78K aid approved$118K to the City of Piedmont for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding41 households applied for aid$78K aid approved$28K to the City of Piedmont for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$19K to the City of Piedmont for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding453 households applied for aid$2.4M aid approved$374K to the City of Piedmont for repairs31 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$29K to the City of Piedmont for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Wayne County has had 23 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 Piedmont after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Piedmont archive →Get ready for what Piedmont 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 Piedmont
Is Piedmont at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Piedmont has higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and earthquakes (11%). 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 Piedmont flood?
Flood insurance has paid 65 claims in Piedmont since 1982, $1.5M in all, or 51.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March storm (31).
Is Piedmont 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 Wayne County, 7% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Piedmont?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Piedmont’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 Piedmont?
By FEMA money that reached Piedmont, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 453 households applied for aid, $2.4M approved, and $374K to the City of Piedmont for repairs. By flood claims, March storm: 31 paid, $1.1M.
Is Piedmont at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Piedmont’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Piedmont.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Piedmont’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.