Storms, floods and disasters in Pickens
Pickens isn’t graded for hazard risk: Pickens has 969 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1983.
What Pickens 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
Earthquakes
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 Pickens flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pickens, from FEMA’s records.
Pickens isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Holmes County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pickens
Disasters that paid out in Pickens itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Pickens), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm534 households applied for aid$2.4M aid approved$4K to the Town of Pickens for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding8 households applied for aid$16K aid approved
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Associated Flooding25 households applied for aid$34K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding108 households applied for aid$563K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Katrina333 households applied for aid$146K aid approved$33K to the Town of Pickens for repairs
Show all 7
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Floods30 households applied for aid$30K aid approved
Holmes County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Old photos of Pickens after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pickens archive →Get ready for what Pickens 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Pickens
Does Pickens flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Pickens since 1983, $34K in all. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Pickens 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 Holmes 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 Pickens?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pickens’ 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 Pickens?
By FEMA money that reached Pickens, Severe Winter Storm (2026): 534 households applied for aid, $2.4M approved, and $4K to the Town of Pickens for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pickens.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pickens’ 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.