On FEMA’s figures, Mowbray Mountain faces more hazard damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mowbray Mountain gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 2015.
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 Mowbray Mountain 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
Earthquakes
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 Mowbray Mountain’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mowbray Mountain, and Mowbray Mountain’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mowbray Mountain’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $614K a year in losses across Mowbray Mountain: $434K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mowbray Mountain flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 2015
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mowbray Mountain, from FEMA’s records: 15.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Early winter storms2 claims · $9K
Mowbray Mountain isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hamilton County.The storms Mowbray Mountain remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Hamilton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Mowbray Mountain itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20188 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20152 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20202 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding, declared for Hamilton County
Hamilton County has had 19 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.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Hamilton County, 2016–2016.
Old photos of Mowbray Mountain after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mowbray Mountain archive →Mowbray Mountain and its neighbors
Mowbray Mountain is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Top Mountain | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Mowbray Mountain | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Soddy-Daisy | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 54 |
| Falling Water | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
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 Mowbray Mountain 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Mowbray Mountain
Is Mowbray Mountain at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mowbray Mountain has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mowbray Mountain flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Mowbray Mountain since 2015, $244K in all, or 15.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Early winter storms (2).
Is Mowbray Mountain 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 Hamilton County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mowbray Mountain?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mowbray Mountain’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 Mowbray Mountain?
By flood claims, Early winter storms: 2 paid, $9K.
Is Mowbray Mountain at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Mowbray Mountain’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mowbray Mountain.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mowbray Mountain’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.