Noble County Jail and Sheriff's Office · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Caldwell as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Caldwell gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1998.
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 Caldwell’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Caldwell 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 Caldwell’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Caldwell, and Caldwell’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Caldwell’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $531K a year in losses across Caldwell: $435K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Caldwell flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Caldwell, from FEMA’s records: 32.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan14 claims · $226K
Caldwell isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Noble County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Caldwell
Disasters that paid out in Caldwell itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Caldwell), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$11K to the Village of Caldwell for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding45 households applied for aid$150K aid approved$83K to the Village of Caldwell for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/near Record Snow$18K to the Village of Caldwell for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Noble County has had 14 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 Caldwell after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Caldwell archive →Caldwell and its neighbors
Caldwell is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Olive Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Noble Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Caldwell | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
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 Caldwell 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 Caldwell
Is Caldwell at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Caldwell has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Caldwell flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Caldwell since 1998, $526K in all, or 32.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (14).
Is Caldwell 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 Noble County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Caldwell?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Caldwell’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 Caldwell?
By FEMA money that reached Caldwell, Severe Storms and Flooding (2004): 45 households applied for aid, $150K approved, and $83K to the Village of Caldwell for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 14 paid, $226K.
Is Caldwell at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Caldwell’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Caldwell.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Caldwell’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.