Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Forest City as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forest City gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #142 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2019.
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 Forest City 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
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 Forest City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Forest City, and Forest City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #142 of 290 in North Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Forest City’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical North Carolina town has lower expected damage than 51% of U.S. towns; within the state, Forest City has less expected damage per building than 51% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.9M a year in losses across Forest City: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Forest City flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2019
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Forest City, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Helene1 claim · $23K
Forest City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rutherford County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Forest City
Disasters that paid out in Forest City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Forest City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene3,964 households applied for aid$4.0M aid approved$2.0M to the Town of Forest City for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $23K
- 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$551K to the Town of Forest City for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Hurricane Ivan4 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Storm Frances9 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$52K to the Town of Forest City for repairs
Rutherford County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Rutherford County, 2016–2016.
Old photos of Forest City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Forest City archive →Forest City and its neighbors
Forest City is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spindale | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Forest City | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Forest City 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.
- 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 Forest City
Is Forest City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forest City has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #142 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Forest City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Forest City since 2019, $98K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (1).
Is Forest City 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 Rutherford County, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Forest City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Forest City’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 Forest City?
By FEMA money that reached Forest City, Tropical Storm Helene (2024): 3,964 households applied for aid, $4.0M approved, and $2.0M to the Town of Forest City for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 1 paid, $23K.
Is Forest City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Forest City’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Forest City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Forest City’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.