Photo: Idawriter · CC BY-SA 3.0Storms, floods and disasters in Peterstown
Peterstown isn’t graded for hazard risk: Peterstown has 594 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1978.
What Peterstown 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 Peterstown flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Peterstown, from FEMA’s records.
Peterstown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Monroe County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Peterstown
Disasters that paid out in Peterstown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Peterstown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds5 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides26 households applied for aid$94K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides5 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
Monroe 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 Peterstown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Peterstown archive →Get ready for what Peterstown 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 Peterstown
Does Peterstown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Peterstown since 1978, $28K in all.
Is Peterstown 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 Monroe County, 4% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Peterstown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Peterstown’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 Peterstown?
By FEMA money that reached Peterstown, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides (2003): 26 households applied for aid, $94K approved.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Peterstown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Peterstown’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.