Photo: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Highlands than in 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Highlands gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%). 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 stands out about Highlands’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Highlands 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 Highlands’ grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Highlands, and Highlands’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Landslides add 5%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Highlands’ residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across Highlands: $726K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Highlands flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Highlands. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Highlands isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Macon County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Highlands
Disasters that paid out in Highlands itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Highlands), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene169 households applied for aid$160K aid approved$984K to the Town of Highlands for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan55 households applied for aid$41K aid approved$118K to the Town of Highlands for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Frances$16K to the Town of Highlands for repairs
Macon County has had 13 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.
Old photos of Highlands after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Highlands archive →Get ready for what Highlands 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 Highlands
Is Highlands at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Highlands has lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Highlands 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 Macon County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Highlands?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Highlands’ 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 Highlands?
By FEMA money that reached Highlands, Tropical Storm Helene (2024): 169 households applied for aid, $160K approved, and $984K to the Town of Highlands for repairs.
Is Highlands at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Highlands’ rate for it is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Highlands.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Highlands’ 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.