Photo: Alan Prusila · CC BY 2.5More hazard damage per building is expected in Au Sable than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Au Sable gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #672 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2011.
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 Au Sable 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 Au Sable’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Au Sable, and Au Sable’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
C #672 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Au Sable’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Au Sable has more expected damage per building than 89% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Au Sable: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Au Sable flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Au Sable, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Au Sable isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clinton County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Au Sable
Disasters that paid out in Au Sable itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Au Sable), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$12K to the Town of Au Sable for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$4K to the Town of Au Sable for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Clinton County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Au Sable after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Au Sable archive →Au Sable and its neighbors
Au Sable is 5th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colchester | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Peru | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Chesterfield | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Black Brook | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Au Sable | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Jay | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 166 |
| Keeseville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Au Sable 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 Au Sable
Is Au Sable at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Au Sable has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #672 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). 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 Au Sable flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Au Sable since 2011, $56K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Au Sable 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 Clinton County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Au Sable?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Au Sable’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 Au Sable?
By FEMA money that reached Au Sable, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2017): $12K to the Town of Au Sable for repairs.
Is Au Sable at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Au Sable’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Au Sable.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Au Sable’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.