–Not graded

Natural hazards in Vinton · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Vinton

Vinton isn’t graded for hazard risk: Vinton has 251 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 18 claims here since 1979.

Flood claims

paid since 1979 · $250K

Flooded more than once

properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”

Disasters paid out here

of 13 declared for Gallia County

By hazard

What Vinton 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

92%of expected building damage

Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Smaller shares here

Tornadoes Strong wind Earthquakes Ice storms Hail Hurricanes Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves Lightning Heat waves Landslides

FEMA models no building damage here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 16% of Vinton’s expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Vinton flood? Sometimes: 18 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Vinton, from FEMA’s records.

Paid flood claims, by year

197919972000

19792026

Biggest named events

The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $8K
Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $41K

paid claims since 1979

$250K

paid to owners

homes flooded more than once

$14K

average claim

Homes that flooded again and again

FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones are insured

of all homes are insured

No community discount

Vinton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Gallia County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

6flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

5homes raised above flood level

2buildings floodproofed

1flood-prone home bought out and moved

1storm safe room built

Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Vinton

Disasters that paid out in Vinton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Vinton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

2011Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Village of Vinton for repairs
2004Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$4K to the Village of Vinton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/near Record Snow25 households applied for aid$17K aid approved$3K to the Village of Vinton for repairs

Disasters declared, by decade

Paid out in VintonGallia County only

Gallia County has had 13 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Vinton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Vinton archive →

Be ready

Get ready for what Vinton faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises

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.

Questions about natural hazards in Vinton

Does Vinton flood?

Flood insurance has paid 18 claims in Vinton since 1979, $250K in all. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Central U.S. April Flooding (1).

Is Vinton 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 Gallia County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Vinton?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Vinton’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 Vinton?

By FEMA money that reached Vinton, Severe Winter Storm and Record/near Record Snow (2003): 25 households applied for aid, $17K approved, and $3K to the Village of Vinton for repairs. By flood claims, Central U.S. April Flooding: 1 paid, $8K.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Vinton.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Vinton’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.

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