FEMA puts Gouverneur’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gouverneur gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #429 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1978.
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 Gouverneur 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 Gouverneur’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gouverneur, and Gouverneur’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts).
B #429 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Gouverneur’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, Gouverneur has more expected damage per building than 57% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Gouverneur: $884K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gouverneur flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gouverneur, from FEMA’s records: 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Debby2 claims · $10K
Gouverneur 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Gouverneur
Disasters that paid out in Gouverneur itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Gouverneur), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby$36K to the Village of Gouverneur for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $10K
- 2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$7K to the Village of Gouverneur for repairs
- 1999Snow$5K to the Village of Gouverneur 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 Gouverneur after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gouverneur archive →Get ready for what Gouverneur 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 Gouverneur
Is Gouverneur at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gouverneur has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #429 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 Gouverneur flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Gouverneur since 1978, $53K in all, or 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Debby (2).
Is Gouverneur 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 Gouverneur?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Gouverneur’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 Gouverneur?
By FEMA money that reached Gouverneur, Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby (2024): $36K to the Village of Gouverneur for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Debby: 2 paid, $10K.
Is Gouverneur at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Gouverneur’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gouverneur.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gouverneur’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.