Albert S. Heck Mansion · Photo: Coal town guy · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Spencer than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spencer gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 37 claims here since 1997.
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 Spencer’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Spencer 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 Spencer’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Spencer, and Spencer’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Spencer’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Spencer: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Spencer flood? Sometimes: 37 flood claims since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Spencer, from FEMA’s records: 34.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Spencer isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Roane County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Spencer
Disasters that paid out in Spencer itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Spencer), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides102 households applied for aid$537K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides16 households applied for aid$24K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$471K to the City of Spencer for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds22 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$19K to the City of Spencer for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides$50K to the City of Spencer for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to the City of Spencer for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 9
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides12 households applied for aid$22K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides110 households applied for aid$87K aid approved$26K to the City of Spencer for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides$36K to the City of Spencer for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Roane County has had 21 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 Spencer after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Spencer archive →Get ready for what Spencer 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 Spencer
Is Spencer at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spencer has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Spencer flood?
Flood insurance has paid 37 claims in Spencer since 1997, $817K in all, or 34.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Spencer 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 Roane County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Spencer?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Spencer’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 Spencer?
By FEMA money that reached Spencer, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): 102 households applied for aid, $537K approved.
Is Spencer at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Spencer’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Spencer.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Spencer’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.