FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in De Peyster than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, De Peyster gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 De Peyster 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 De Peyster’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in De Peyster, and De Peyster’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts).
A− lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of De Peyster’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $257K a year in losses across De Peyster: $189K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does De Peyster flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in De Peyster. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
De Peyster isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Lawrence County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to De Peyster
Disasters that paid out in De Peyster itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of De Peyster), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 1999Snow$4K to the Town of De Peyster for repairs
St. Lawrence County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of De Peyster after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the De Peyster archive →De Peyster and its neighbors
De Peyster is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| De Kalb | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | — |
| De Peyster | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Gouverneur | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Oswegatchie | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Macomb | — | 752 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 De Peyster 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 De Peyster
Is De Peyster at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, De Peyster has lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and earthquakes (8%). 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.
Is De Peyster 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 St. Lawrence County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in De Peyster?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for De Peyster’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 De Peyster?
By FEMA money that reached De Peyster, Snow (1999): $4K to the Town of De Peyster for repairs.
Is De Peyster at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and De Peyster’s rate for it is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in De Peyster.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where De Peyster’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.