Bernard E. Wilmoth House · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Belington than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belington gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 43 claims here since 1985.
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 Belington 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 Belington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Belington, and Belington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C− higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Belington’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $805K a year in losses across Belington: $719K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Belington flood? Sometimes: 43 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Belington, from FEMA’s records: 54.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Belington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Barbour County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Belington
Disasters that paid out in Belington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Belington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$8K to the Town of Belington for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and14 households applied for aid$21K aid approved$4K to the Town of Belington for repairs
- 2000Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides$13K to the Town of Belington for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Barbour County has had 15 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 Belington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Belington archive →Get ready for what Belington 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 Belington
Is Belington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belington has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). 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.
Does Belington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 43 claims in Belington since 1985, $565K in all, or 54.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Belington 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 Barbour County, 7% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Belington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Belington’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 Belington?
By FEMA money that reached Belington, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and (2008): 14 households applied for aid, $21K approved, and $4K to the Town of Belington for repairs.
Is Belington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Belington’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Belington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Belington’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.