Photo: Stanley P. Mixon, Photographer · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Chatham as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chatham gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2000.
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 Chatham 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
Hurricanes
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 Chatham’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chatham, and Chatham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
B lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chatham’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $666K a year in losses across Chatham: $564K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chatham flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2000
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chatham, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Chatham isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Columbia County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chatham
Disasters that paid out in Chatham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Chatham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene17 households applied for aid$37K aid approved$4K to the Village of Chatham for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$8K to the Village of Chatham for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$18K to the Village of Chatham for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$11K to the Village of Chatham for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$5K to the Village of Chatham for repairs
- 2003Snow$4K to the Village of Chatham for repairs
Show all 8
- 2002Snowstorms$6K to the Village of Chatham for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$11K to the Village of Chatham for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Columbia County has had 19 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 Chatham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chatham archive →Get ready for what Chatham 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Chatham
Is Chatham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chatham has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Chatham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Chatham since 2000, $683 in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Chatham 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 Columbia County, 0.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Chatham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chatham’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 Chatham?
By FEMA money that reached Chatham, Hurricane Irene (2011): 17 households applied for aid, $37K approved, and $4K to the Village of Chatham for repairs.
Is Chatham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Chatham’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chatham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chatham’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.