Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Champlain than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Champlain gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #640 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1983.
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 Champlain 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 Champlain’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Champlain, and Champlain’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
C #640 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Champlain’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Champlain has more expected damage per building than 84% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Champlain: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Champlain flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Champlain, from FEMA’s records: 10.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter1 claim · $1K
Champlain 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.The storms Champlain remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Clinton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Champlain itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201112 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Irene, declared for Clinton County
- 19966 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms High Winds, Rain and Flooding, declared for Clinton County
- 19983 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Clinton County
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 Champlain after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Champlain archive →Champlain and its neighbors
Champlain is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alburgh | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Champlain | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Rouses Point | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Mooers | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Chazy | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Isle La Motte | — | 577 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 Champlain 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 Champlain
Is Champlain at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Champlain has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #640 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Champlain flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Champlain since 1983, $316K in all, or 10.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (1).
Is Champlain 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 Champlain?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Champlain’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 Champlain?
By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 1 paid, $1K.
Is Champlain at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Champlain’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Champlain.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Champlain’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.