Clarendon Stone Store · Photo: Steven Hamsness · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Clarendon than in 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clarendon gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #119 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1979.
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 Clarendon 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
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 Clarendon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clarendon, and Clarendon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
A #119 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Clarendon’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, Clarendon has less expected damage per building than 84% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $493K a year in losses across Clarendon: $372K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clarendon flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clarendon, from FEMA’s records: 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Clarendon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Orleans County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Clarendon
Disasters that paid out in Clarendon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Clarendon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Town of Clarendon for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$29K to the Town of Clarendon for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$2K to the Town of Clarendon for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$8K to the Town of Clarendon for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Town of Clarendon for repairs
- 1999Snow$13K to the Town of Clarendon for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Snow$8K to the Town of Clarendon for repairs
Orleans County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe 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 Clarendon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Clarendon archive →Clarendon and its neighbors
Clarendon is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Byron | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Murray | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Holley | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Barre | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Clarendon | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Clarendon 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.
- 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 Clarendon
Is Clarendon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clarendon has lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #119 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). 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 Clarendon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Clarendon since 1979, $31K in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Clarendon 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 Orleans County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Clarendon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clarendon’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 Clarendon?
By FEMA money that reached Clarendon, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 1 households applied for aid, $2K approved, and $29K to the Town of Clarendon for repairs.
Is Clarendon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Clarendon’s rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clarendon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clarendon’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.