Photo: Generic1139 · CC BY-SA 3.0Storms, floods and disasters in Coal Center
Coal Center isn’t graded for hazard risk: Coal Center has 101 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 1978.
What Coal Center 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 Coal Center flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Coal Center, from FEMA’s records.
Coal Center 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.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Coal Center
Disasters that paid out in Coal Center itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Coal Center), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan6 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
Washington County has had 11 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 Coal Center after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Coal Center archive →Coal Center and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Newell | — | 582 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 Coal Center 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 Coal Center
Does Coal Center flood?
Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Coal Center since 1978, $69K in all.
Is Coal Center 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, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Coal Center?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Coal Center’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 Coal Center?
By FEMA money that reached Coal Center, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 6 households applied for aid, $20K approved.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Coal Center.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Coal Center’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.