Photo: Magnolia677 · CC BY-SA 3.0Storms, floods and disasters in Kimball
Kimball isn’t graded for hazard risk: Kimball has 231 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 41 claims here since 1981.
What Kimball 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 Kimball flood? Sometimes: 41 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kimball, from FEMA’s records.
- The February West Virginia Flooding3 claims · $211K
Kimball isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: McDowell County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Kimball
Disasters that paid out in Kimball itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Kimball), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides34 households applied for aid$238K aid approved$1.6M to the Town of Kimball for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds13 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides60 households applied for aid$95K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$5K to the Town of Kimball for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides9 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides26 households applied for aid$25K aid approved
Show all 11
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides13 households applied for aid$29K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides15 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides$18K to the Town of Kimball for repairs19 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides$40K to the Town of Kimball for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
McDowell County has had 22 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 McDowell County, 2001–2001.
Old photos of Kimball after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kimball archive →Get ready for what Kimball 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 Kimball
Does Kimball flood?
Flood insurance has paid 41 claims in Kimball since 1981, $834K in all. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from February West Virginia Flooding (3).
Is Kimball 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 McDowell County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Kimball?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kimball’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 Kimball?
By FEMA money that reached Kimball, Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 34 households applied for aid, $238K approved, and $1.6M to the Town of Kimball for repairs. By flood claims, February West Virginia Flooding: 3 paid, $211K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kimball.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kimball’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.