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Van-Buren-from-US60-moPhoto: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
–Not graded
Natural hazards in Van Buren · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Van Buren

Van Buren isn’t graded for hazard risk: FEMA’s tract figures aren’t matched to Van Buren yet. Flood insurance has paid 44 claims here since 1982.

Flood claims
44
paid since 1982 · $2.1M
Flooded more than once
4
properties
Disasters paid out here
6
of 17 declared for Carter County
By hazard

What Van Buren 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

82%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

9%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Ice storms top 3% Strong wind Wildfire Winter storms top 2% Hail Landslides top 2% Hurricanes Cold waves Heat waves Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 15% of Van Buren’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Flood insurance claims

Does Van Buren flood? Sometimes: 44 flood claims since 1982

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Van Buren, from FEMA’s records.

Paid flood claims, by year
1982: 2 claims1983: 2 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 7 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 9 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 4 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 8 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 4 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 8 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199320082017
19822026
Biggest named events
  • The Late spring severe storms8 claims · $1.5M
  • The March storm8 claims · $182K
  • The Mid-spring storms4 claims · $8K
44
paid claims since 1982
$2.1M
paid to owners
4
homes flooded more than once
$47K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Van Buren isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Carter County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
9flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
1storm safe room built
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Van Buren

Disasters that paid out in Van Buren itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Van Buren), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
  2. 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires9 households applied for aid$31K aid approved
  3. 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$39K to the Town of Van Buren for repairs
  4. 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding199 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$830K to the Town of Van Buren for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding20 households applied for aid$83K aid approved$4K to the Town of Van Buren for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding49 households applied for aid$138K aid approved$11K to the Town of Van Buren for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Van BurenCarter County only

Carter County has had 17 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Van Buren after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Van Buren archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Van Buren faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Van Buren

Does Van Buren flood?

Flood insurance has paid 44 claims in Van Buren since 1982, $2.1M in all. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late spring severe storms (8).

Is Van Buren 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 Carter County, 1.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.

How much is flood insurance in Van Buren?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Van Buren’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 Van Buren?

By FEMA money that reached Van Buren, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding (2017): 199 households applied for aid, $1.7M approved, and $830K to the Town of Van Buren for repairs. By flood claims, Late spring severe storms: 8 paid, $1.5M.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Van Buren.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Van Buren’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.