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–Not graded
Natural hazards in Readstown · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Readstown

Readstown isn’t graded for hazard risk: Readstown has 381 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 2007.

Flood claims
11
paid since 2007 · $729K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Disasters paid out here
7
of 20 declared for Vernon County
By hazard

What Readstown 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

84%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

8%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 12 years in the area

Hail

6%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Lightning Winter storms Landslides top 4% Hurricanes Earthquakes Wildfire Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 32% of Readstown’s expected losses. Cold 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 Readstown flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 2007

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

Paid flood claims, by year
2007: 1 claim2008: 2 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 1 claim2016: 1 claim2017: 0 claims2018: 6 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200720082018
20072026
Biggest named events
  • The Storm2 claims · $20K
11
paid claims since 2007
$729K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$66K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Vernon County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
6flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Readstown

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

  1. 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides44 households applied for aid$290K aid approved$71K to the Village of Readstown for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2017Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud$27K to the Village of Readstown for repairs
  3. 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$34K to the Village of Readstown for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  4. 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding47 households applied for aid$148K aid approved$27K to the Village of Readstown for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2007Severe Storms and Flooding51 households applied for aid$121K aid approved$28K to the Village of Readstown for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  6. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$18K aid approved$11K to the Village of Readstown for repairs
Show all 7
  1. 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$27K to the Village of Readstown for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in ReadstownVernon County only

Vernon County has had 20 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 Readstown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Readstown archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Readstown 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
  • Stay away from windows while it falls.
  • Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Readstown

Does Readstown flood?

Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Readstown since 2007, $729K in all. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Storm (2).

Is Readstown 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 Vernon County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Readstown?

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

By FEMA money that reached Readstown, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides (2018): 44 households applied for aid, $290K approved, and $71K to the Village of Readstown for repairs. By flood claims, Storm: 2 paid, $20K.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Readstown.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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