Photo: Ser Amantio di Nicolao at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Apple Creek than in 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Apple Creek gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1978.
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 Apple Creek’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Apple Creek 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 Apple Creek’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Apple Creek, and Apple Creek’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Apple Creek’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $264K a year in losses across Apple Creek: $224K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Apple Creek flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Apple Creek, from FEMA’s records: 16.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late winter storms1 claim · $5K
Apple Creek isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wayne County.The storms Apple Creek remembers
None of the 7 disasters declared for Wayne County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Apple Creek itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19792 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19781 flood claims paidThe year of Blizzards and Snowstorms, declared for Wayne County
- 20111 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Wayne County has had 7 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Apple Creek after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Apple Creek archive →Get ready for what Apple Creek 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 Apple Creek
Is Apple Creek at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Apple Creek has lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Apple Creek flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Apple Creek since 1978, $107K in all, or 16.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late winter storms (1).
Is Apple Creek 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 Wayne County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Apple Creek?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Apple Creek’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 Apple Creek?
By flood claims, Late winter storms: 1 paid, $5K.
Is Apple Creek at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Apple Creek’s rate for it is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Apple Creek.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Apple Creek’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.