Fontanelle Township Hall · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Township 6 than in 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Township 6 gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then tornadoes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 30 claims here since 1990.
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 Township 6 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
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.
What’s behind Township 6’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Township 6, and Township 6’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 16%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C− higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Township 6’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Township 6: $881K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Township 6 flood? Sometimes: 30 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Township 6, from FEMA’s records: 50.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2019 Midwest Flooding8 claims · $194K
- The Midwest Flooding2 claims · $30K
- The Late spring storms1 claim · $1K
Township 6 isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Washington County.The storms Township 6 remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Washington County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Township 6 itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20198 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding, declared for Washington County
- 19934 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Washington County
- 19994 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Washington County
Washington County has had 21 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 Township 6 after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Township 6 archive →Township 6 and its neighbors
Township 6 is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blair | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Township 2 | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Township 6 | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Township 5 | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Township 7 | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hooper Township | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Nickerson Township | — | not graded yet | |
| Elkhorn Township | — | 396 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Township 6 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.
- 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 Township 6
Is Township 6 at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Township 6 has higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and tornadoes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Township 6 flood?
Flood insurance has paid 30 claims in Township 6 since 1990, $593K in all, or 50.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March 2019 Midwest Flooding (8).
Is Township 6 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 Washington County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Township 6?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Township 6’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 Township 6?
By flood claims, March 2019 Midwest Flooding: 8 paid, $194K.
Is Township 6 at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Township 6’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Township 6.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Township 6’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.