Storms, floods and disasters in Justice
Justice isn’t graded for hazard risk: Justice has 186 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more.
What Justice 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 Justice flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Justice. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Justice isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Mingo County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Justice
Disasters that paid out in Justice itself (aid to households or repair grants to Justice), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides10 households applied for aid$23K aid approved
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides19 households applied for aid$33K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides6 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides4 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides2 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
Mingo County has had 31 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 Mingo County, 2001–2001.
Old photos of Justice after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Justice archive →Get ready for what Justice 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 Justice
Is Justice 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 Mingo County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Justice?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Justice’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 Justice?
By FEMA money that reached Justice, Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides (2009): 19 households applied for aid, $33K approved.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Justice.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Justice’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.