Salisbury Square Historic District · Photo: Jim Roberts · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Salisbury faces more hazard damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Salisbury gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Salisbury 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 Salisbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Salisbury, and Salisbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
C− higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Salisbury’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Salisbury: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Salisbury flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Salisbury. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Salisbury isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chariton County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Salisbury
Disasters that paid out in Salisbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Salisbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$6K to the City of Salisbury for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado$4K to the City of Salisbury for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
- 2002Severe Winter Ice Storm$26K to the City of Salisbury for repairs
Chariton County has had 24 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 Salisbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Salisbury archive →Get ready for what Salisbury 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Salisbury
Is Salisbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Salisbury has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and tornadoes (8%). 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.
Is Salisbury 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 Chariton County, 5% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Salisbury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Salisbury’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 Salisbury?
By FEMA money that reached Salisbury, Severe Winter Ice Storm (2002): $26K to the City of Salisbury for repairs.
Is Salisbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Salisbury’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Salisbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Salisbury’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.