Crossover Island Light Station · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Hammond as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hammond gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1993.
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 Hammond 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 Hammond’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hammond, and Hammond’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Hammond’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $486K a year in losses across Hammond: $404K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hammond flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hammond, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hammond 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.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hammond
Disasters that paid out in Hammond itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hammond), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Flooding$11K to the Town of Hammond for repairs
- 1999Snow$4K to the Town of Hammond 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 Hammond after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hammond archive →Hammond and its neighbors
Hammond is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Hammond | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Morristown | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Macomb | — | 752 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Rossie | — | 785 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 Hammond 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 Hammond
Is Hammond at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hammond has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). 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 Hammond flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Hammond since 1993, $1K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hammond 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 Hammond?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hammond’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 Hammond?
By FEMA money that reached Hammond, Flooding (2017): $11K to the Town of Hammond for repairs.
Is Hammond at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Hammond’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hammond.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hammond’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.