Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Chazy faces more hazard damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chazy gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #680 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 14 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 Chazy 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 Chazy’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chazy, and Chazy’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
C #680 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Chazy’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, Chazy has more expected damage per building than 90% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Chazy: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chazy flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chazy, from FEMA’s records: 7.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $50K
- The Late summer storms1 claim · $500
Chazy 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chazy
Disasters that paid out in Chazy itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Chazy), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$11K to the Town of Chazy for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene11 households applied for aid$13K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $50K
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$16K to the Town of Chazy for repairs
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 Chazy after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chazy archive →Chazy and its neighbors
Chazy is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champlain | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Altona | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Chazy | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Beekmantown | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| 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 Chazy 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 Chazy
Is Chazy at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chazy has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #680 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%) and earthquakes (6%). 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 Chazy flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Chazy since 1983, $321K in all, or 7.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Chazy 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 Chazy?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chazy’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 Chazy?
By FEMA money that reached Chazy, Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds (2011): $16K to the Town of Chazy for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $50K.
Is Chazy at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Chazy’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chazy.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chazy’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.