Holley Hills Estate · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Alum Creek than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Alum Creek gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). 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 Alum Creek 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 Alum Creek’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Alum Creek, and Alum Creek’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Alum Creek’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Alum Creek: $899K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Alum Creek flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Alum Creek. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Alum Creek isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lincoln County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Alum Creek
Disasters that paid out in Alum Creek itself (aid to households or repair grants to Alum Creek), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides11 households applied for aid$55K aid approved
- 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides4 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds18 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides8 households applied for aid$42K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides1 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
Show all 10
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides18 households applied for aid$21K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides137 households applied for aid$520K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides6 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides4 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
Lincoln County has had 32 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Lincoln County, 2001–2001.
Old photos of Alum Creek after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Alum Creek archive →Get ready for what Alum Creek 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 Alum Creek
Is Alum Creek at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Alum Creek has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Alum Creek 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 Lincoln County, 3% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Alum Creek?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Alum Creek’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 Alum Creek?
By FEMA money that reached Alum Creek, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides (2003): 137 households applied for aid, $520K approved.
Is Alum Creek at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Alum Creek’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Alum Creek.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Alum Creek’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.