Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Malta’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Malta gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1978.
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 Malta 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
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 Malta’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Malta, and Malta’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 4%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Malta’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Malta: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Malta flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Malta, from FEMA’s records: 9.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Malta isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Phillips County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Malta
Disasters that paid out in Malta itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Malta), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding26 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
Phillips County has had 7 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 Malta after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Malta archive →Get ready for what Malta 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.
- 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 Malta
Is Malta at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Malta has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). 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 Malta flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Malta since 1978, $11K in all, or 9.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Malta 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 Phillips County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Malta?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Malta’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 Malta?
By FEMA money that reached Malta, Severe Storms and Flooding (2011): 26 households applied for aid, $13K approved.
Is Malta at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Malta’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Malta.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Malta’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.