Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Champlain than in 66% 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 66% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%), then earthquakes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 20 claims here since 1980.
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 Champlain’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
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 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Champlain, and Champlain’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Champlain’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $561K a year in losses across Champlain: $492K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Champlain flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Champlain, from FEMA’s records: 31.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Champlain
Disasters that paid out in Champlain itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Champlain), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene7 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
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 →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 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and earthquakes (10%). 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 Champlain flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Champlain since 1980, $127K in all, or 31.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once.
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 FEMA money that reached Champlain, Hurricane Irene (2011): 7 households applied for aid, $6K approved.
Is Champlain at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Champlain’s rate for it is higher than 78% 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.