Photo: jpmueller99 from Shenandoah Valley of VA, USA · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Shawsville faces more hazard damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shawsville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Shawsville 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 Shawsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shawsville, and Shawsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Shawsville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $692K a year in losses across Shawsville: $576K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shawsville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Shawsville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Shawsville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montgomery County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shawsville
Disasters that paid out in Shawsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to Shawsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding From the Remanants of Hurricane Jeanne6 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2003Hurricane Isabel1 households applied for aid$377 aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,floodind, and Mudslide8 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
Montgomery County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Shawsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shawsville archive →Get ready for what Shawsville 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 Shawsville
Is Shawsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shawsville has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Shawsville 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 Montgomery County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shawsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shawsville’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 Shawsville?
By FEMA money that reached Shawsville, Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,floodind, and Mudslide (2003): 8 households applied for aid, $13K approved.
Is Shawsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Shawsville’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shawsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shawsville’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.