Storms, floods and disasters in Lower Salem
Lower Salem isn’t graded for hazard risk: Lower Salem has 92 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 16 claims here since 1997.
What Lower Salem 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 Lower Salem flood? Sometimes: 16 flood claims since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lower Salem, from FEMA’s records.
- Tropical Storm Ivan7 claims · $256K
Lower Salem 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Lower Salem
Disasters that paid out in Lower Salem itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Lower Salem), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding34 households applied for aid$79K aid approved$16K to the Village of Lower Salem for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
Washington County has had 16 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 Lower Salem after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lower Salem archive →Get ready for what Lower Salem 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 Lower Salem
Does Lower Salem flood?
Flood insurance has paid 16 claims in Lower Salem since 1997, $437K in all. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (7).
Is Lower Salem 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 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lower Salem?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lower Salem’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 Lower Salem?
By FEMA money that reached Lower Salem, Severe Storms and Flooding (2004): 34 households applied for aid, $79K approved, and $16K to the Village of Lower Salem for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 7 paid, $256K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lower Salem.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lower Salem’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.