Storms, floods and disasters in Fort Gay
Fort Gay isn’t graded for hazard risk: Fort Gay has 437 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1997.
What Fort Gay 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.
Does Fort Gay flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fort Gay, from FEMA’s records.
Fort Gay isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wayne County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fort Gay
Disasters that paid out in Fort Gay itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Fort Gay), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides25 households applied for aid$179K aid approved$50K to the Town of Fort Gay for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides5 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2021Severe Storms and Flooding17 households applied for aid$76K aid approved
- 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides155 households applied for aid$106K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides23 households applied for aid$29K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides20 households applied for aid$43K aid approved
Show all 9
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides90 households applied for aid$145K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides57 households applied for aid$71K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides29 households applied for aid$52K aid approved
Wayne County has had 28 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 Wayne County, 2001–2001.
Old photos of Fort Gay after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fort Gay archive →Get ready for what Fort Gay 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 Fort Gay
Does Fort Gay flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Fort Gay since 1997, $198K in all. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Fort Gay 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 Wayne County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fort Gay?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fort Gay’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 Fort Gay?
By FEMA money that reached Fort Gay, Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 25 households applied for aid, $179K approved, and $50K to the Town of Fort Gay for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fort Gay.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fort Gay’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.