When people think of flooding in the U.S., places like New Orleans or Houston come to mind. But there’s a hidden list of towns quietly facing growing flood risks—without the attention or resources of major coastal cities. Some are nestled in valleys, others sit beside aging dams, and a few have simply been forgotten by federal maps. These are the places where floodwaters may come without warning—and the country isn’t ready.
Here are 10 towns flying under the radar—but sitting right in harm’s way.
1️⃣ Ellicott City, Maryland
🌧️ Risk Factor: Flash flooding from steep hills and overdevelopment
🏘️ Why It’s Forgotten: Not on a coastline, yet floods like one
Ellicott City has suffered multiple catastrophic floods in the last decade, including a 1,000-year flood in 2016 and another just two years later. The town is located in a narrow valley where rainfall rapidly channels through Main Street like a river. Despite repeated disasters, much of the town’s infrastructure remains vulnerable. Unlike major metro areas, Ellicott City doesn’t make national flood preparedness headlines—but maybe it should.
2️⃣ Cedar Rapids, Iowa
🌊 Risk Factor: River overflow from the Cedar River
🏞️ Why It’s Forgotten: Midwestern location masks its flood history
In 2008, Cedar Rapids experienced one of the most devastating inland floods in U.S. history. Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed. Yet outside the Midwest, few associate Iowa with flood risk. The city remains vulnerable due to outdated levees and unpredictable weather shifts that are growing more extreme due to climate change. It’s a classic case of a flood-prone town without coastal visibility.
3️⃣ Valmeyer, Illinois
🏚️ Risk Factor: Mississippi River backflow and levee failure
🧭 Why It’s Forgotten: Already relocated once—but still at risk
In 1993, the original Valmeyer was obliterated by historic Mississippi River flooding. The town made the rare move of relocating to higher ground. Yet even its new location isn’t immune. Local tributaries and aging flood protections leave parts of the region exposed. Valmeyer is a symbol of flood memory—people forget until history repeats itself.
4️⃣ Fair Bluff, North Carolina
🌪️ Risk Factor: Repeated river flooding after hurricanes
📉 Why It’s Forgotten: Small population, big destruction
Fair Bluff has been devastated by flooding not once but twice in recent years—first by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, then Hurricane Florence in 2018. Located on the Lumber River, the town has struggled to recover as homes, businesses, and even emergency services were wiped out. With just over 700 residents, Fair Bluff rarely makes national news, but it’s a striking example of how small towns are left behind when the water rises.
5️⃣ Clarksville, Tennessee
🌊 Risk Factor: Overflow from the Cumberland River
🔕 Why It’s Forgotten: Often overshadowed by Nashville
While much attention goes to Nashville’s flood risk, nearby Clarksville has its own problems. In 2010, the Cumberland River swelled beyond control and severely damaged downtown Clarksville. Yet despite significant growth, flood mitigation hasn’t kept pace. With more paved surfaces and heavier rainfall patterns in recent years, the city’s risk is increasing—and it’s flying under the radar.
6️⃣ Aguada, Puerto Rico
🌧️ Risk Factor: Torrential rain and poor drainage infrastructure
🗺️ Why It’s Forgotten: U.S. territory status often leaves it out of the conversation
Aguada, on Puerto Rico’s western coast, experiences frequent flooding due to intense tropical downpours and failing stormwater systems. Despite being part of the United States, towns like Aguada are often excluded from federal attention and funding discussions. Many residents report that local infrastructure hasn’t been upgraded in decades, leaving the community exposed every hurricane season.
7️⃣ St. Johnsbury, Vermont
💧 Risk Factor: River confluence, aging storm systems
🌲 Why It’s Forgotten: Remote New England location, not a major population center
Nestled where the Moose and Passumpsic Rivers meet, St. Johnsbury is quietly vulnerable to flash floods and river surges. The town’s storm infrastructure, like many in rural New England, was never designed for the kind of rainfall Vermont has seen in recent years. With its quaint charm and historic downtown, few imagine floodwaters running through it—until they do.
8️⃣ Selma, Alabama
🌊 Risk Factor: Alabama River overflow, limited federal investment
🏚️ Why It’s Forgotten: Focus tends to be on historical civil rights relevance, not flood risk
Selma is rich in history but poor in infrastructure funding. Sitting right on the Alabama River, the town has faced flood events that don’t make national headlines. The combination of river proximity, aging levees, and underinvestment makes Selma vulnerable—especially as extreme weather increases in the South.
9️⃣ Waverly, Tennessee
🚨 Risk Factor: Sudden inland flash floods from overwhelmed creeks
📰 Why It’s Forgotten: Only remembered briefly after tragedy
In 2021, a devastating flash flood tore through Waverly after 17 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours. Twenty lives were lost. Yet the disaster faded quickly from public memory. The town remains deeply vulnerable, with limited early warning systems and a geography that funnels rain directly into low-lying areas.
🔟 Nogales, Arizona
🌵 Risk Factor: Flash flooding worsened by hard desert terrain and border drainage issues
🌐 Why It’s Forgotten: Desert towns aren’t typically seen as flood zones
A desert town on the Arizona-Mexico border, Nogales faces a bizarre flood challenge—stormwater rushing through tunnels from Mexico into town, overwhelming drainage systems. Border infrastructure and natural terrain combine to make Nogales one of the strangest but real flood risks in the country.
The Water Doesn’t Care if You’re on the Map
Floods don’t just strike coastlines or major cities. As climate patterns shift and infrastructure ages, forgotten towns are becoming the front lines of unexpected disasters. From steep valleys to sunbaked deserts, these places don’t get FEMA billboards or flood-focused zoning—but they should.
By paying attention to these under-the-radar towns, we can shift the conversation before the next flood becomes a headline. Because when the rain comes, it’s not about attention—it’s about preparation.
