Boone County Courthouse · Photo: Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) · CC BY-SA 3.0 usFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Madison than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Madison gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #55 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). Flood insurance has paid 71 claims here since 1978.
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 stands out about Madison’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Madison 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 Madison’s grade
River and rain flooding is 98% of the building damage FEMA expects in Madison, and Madison’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #55 of 61 in West Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Madison’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical West Virginia town has higher expected damage than 73% of U.S. towns; within the state, Madison has more expected damage per building than 90% of West Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Madison: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Madison flood? Sometimes: 71 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Madison, from FEMA’s records: 52.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The April 2007 nor’easter10 claims · $204K
Madison isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Boone County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Madison
Disasters that paid out in Madison itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Madison), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$108K to the City of Madison for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides9 households applied for aid$42K aid approved$9K to the City of Madison for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides9 households applied for aid$68K aid approved
- 2021Severe Storms and Flooding$261K to the City of Madison for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds21 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$16K to the City of Madison for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides4 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides47 households applied for aid$148K aid approved$6K to the City of Madison for repairs
- 2001Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides$7K to the City of Madison for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
Boone County has had 23 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 Boone County, 2001–2001.
Old photos of Madison after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Madison archive →Madison and its neighbors
Madison has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | D−more damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 71 |
| Danville | — | 549 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Madison 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 Madison
Is Madison at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Madison has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #55 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Madison flood?
Flood insurance has paid 71 claims in Madison since 1978, $796K in all, or 52.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from April 2007 Nor'easter (10).
Is Madison 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 Boone County, 5% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Madison?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Madison’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 Madison?
By FEMA money that reached Madison, Severe Storms and Flooding (2021): $261K to the City of Madison for repairs. By flood claims, April 2007 Nor'easter: 10 paid, $204K.
Is Madison at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (98%), and Madison’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Madison.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Madison’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.