Dr. Abner Benton House · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Antwerp than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Antwerp gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1993.
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 Antwerp 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 Antwerp’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Antwerp, and Antwerp’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Antwerp’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $560K a year in losses across Antwerp: $501K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Antwerp flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Antwerp, from FEMA’s records: 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Antwerp isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Jefferson County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Antwerp
Disasters that paid out in Antwerp itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Antwerp), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby$113K to the Town of Antwerp for repairs
- 1999Snow$8K to the Town of Antwerp for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Jefferson County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Antwerp after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Antwerp archive →Antwerp and its neighbors
Antwerp is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diana | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Philadelphia | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Fowler | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Theresa | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Antwerp | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Wilna | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Rossie | — | 785 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 Antwerp 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 Antwerp
Is Antwerp at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Antwerp has higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). 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 Antwerp flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Antwerp since 1993, $33K in all, or 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Antwerp 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 Jefferson County, 0.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Antwerp?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Antwerp’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 Antwerp?
By FEMA money that reached Antwerp, Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby (2024): $113K to the Town of Antwerp for repairs.
Is Antwerp at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Antwerp’s rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Antwerp.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Antwerp’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.