–Not graded

Natural hazards in Edwards · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Edwards

Edwards isn’t graded for hazard risk: FEMA’s tract figures aren’t matched to Edwards yet. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1998.

Flood claims

paid since 1998 · $125K

Disasters paid out here

of 13 declared for St. Lawrence County

By hazard

What Edwards 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

93%of expected building damage

Above average · higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts

Recorded about once a year in the area

Smaller shares here

Earthquakes Ice storms Strong wind Tornadoes Hurricanes Winter storms Wildfire Lightning Hail Cold waves Heat waves Landslides

FEMA models no building damage here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 13% of Edwards’ expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Edwards flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1998

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Edwards, from FEMA’s records.

Paid flood claims, by year

199820172024

19982026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Debby1 claim · $55K

paid claims since 1998

$125K

paid to owners

homes flooded more than once

$25K

average claim

of all homes are insured

No community discount

Edwards 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.

Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Edwards

Disasters that paid out in Edwards itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Edwards), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

2024Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby$1.3M to the Town of Edwards for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $55K
2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$8K to the Town of Edwards for repairs
1999Snow$6K to the Town of Edwards for repairs

Disasters declared, by decade

Paid out in EdwardsSt. Lawrence County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Edwards after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Edwards archive →

Next door

Edwards and its neighbors

How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.

PitcairnHermonFowlerFineRussellEdwards

Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth

Town	Hazard risk	Mostly (buildings)	Flood claims
Hermon	A⁻less damage than 83%	river and rain flooding	1
Fine	C⁺more damage than 57%	river and rain flooding	2
Fowler	C⁺more damage than 59%	river and rain flooding	4
Russell	C⁺more damage than 59%	river and rain flooding	1
Pitcairn	—	833 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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Edwards faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises

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.

Questions about natural hazards in Edwards

Does Edwards flood?

Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Edwards since 1998, $125K in all. The most claims came from Hurricane Debby (1).

Is Edwards 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 Edwards?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Edwards’ 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 Edwards?

By FEMA money that reached Edwards, Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby (2024): $1.3M to the Town of Edwards for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Debby: 1 paid, $55K.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Edwards.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Edwards’ 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.

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