Photo: Mark Clifton · CC BY-SA 2.0Storms, floods and disasters in Newland
Newland isn’t graded for hazard risk: Newland has 866 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 18 claims here since 1979.
What Newland 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.
Does Newland flood? Sometimes: 18 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Newland, from FEMA’s records.
- Hurricane Helene10 claims · $2.5M
- Tropical Storm Ivan2 claims · $331K
Newland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Avery County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Newland
Disasters that paid out in Newland itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Newland), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene2,403 households applied for aid$12.3M aid approved$1.2M to the Town of Newland for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $2.5M
- 2004Hurricane Ivan324 households applied for aid$766K aid approved$166K to the Town of Newland for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $331K
- 2004Tropical Storm Frances203 households applied for aid$417K aid approved$8K to the Town of Newland for repairs
Avery 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.
Old photos of Newland after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Newland archive →Get ready for what Newland 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 Newland
Does Newland flood?
Flood insurance has paid 18 claims in Newland since 1979, $3.1M in all. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (10).
Is Newland 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 Avery County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Newland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Newland’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 Newland?
By FEMA money that reached Newland, Tropical Storm Helene (2024): 2,403 households applied for aid, $12.3M approved, and $1.2M to the Town of Newland for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 10 paid, $2.5M.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Newland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Newland’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.