First Union Protestant Church of Mountain View · Photo: OneEagle · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Bellmont’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bellmont gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2001.
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 Bellmont 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
Earthquakes
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 Bellmont’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bellmont, and Bellmont’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bellmont’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $523K a year in losses across Bellmont: $473K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bellmont flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2001
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bellmont, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Bellmont isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Franklin County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bellmont
Disasters that paid out in Bellmont itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Bellmont), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$1.6M to the Town of Bellmont for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$14K to the Town of Bellmont for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$232K to the Town of Bellmont for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$4K to the Town of Bellmont for repairs
Franklin County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical 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 Bellmont after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bellmont archive →Bellmont and its neighbors
Bellmont is 7th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Chateaugay | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Burke | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Malone | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Ellenburg | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Dannemora | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Bellmont | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Saranac | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Duane | — | 226 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 Bellmont 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Bellmont
Is Bellmont at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bellmont has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bellmont flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Bellmont since 2001, $3K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Bellmont 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 Franklin County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Bellmont?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bellmont’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 Bellmont?
By FEMA money that reached Bellmont, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): $1.6M to the Town of Bellmont for repairs.
Is Bellmont at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Bellmont’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bellmont.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bellmont’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.