Photo: Mwanner at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Harrietstown faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harrietstown gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #577 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1996.
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 Harrietstown 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 Harrietstown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Harrietstown, and Harrietstown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #577 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Harrietstown’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Harrietstown has more expected damage per building than 76% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Harrietstown: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Harrietstown flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Harrietstown, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Harrietstown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Franklin County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Harrietstown
Disasters that paid out in Harrietstown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Harrietstown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to the Town of Harrietstown for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$323K to the Town of Harrietstown for repairs
Franklin County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical 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 Harrietstown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Harrietstown archive →Harrietstown and its neighbors
Harrietstown is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| North Elba | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Saranac Lake | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Harrietstown | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| St. Armand | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Tupper Lake | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Santa Clara | — | 511 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Newcomb | — | 490 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Long Lake | — | 875 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 Harrietstown 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 Harrietstown
Is Harrietstown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harrietstown has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #577 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Harrietstown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Harrietstown since 1996, $3K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Harrietstown 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 Franklin County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Harrietstown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Harrietstown’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 Harrietstown?
By FEMA money that reached Harrietstown, Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds (2011): $323K to the Town of Harrietstown for repairs.
Is Harrietstown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Harrietstown’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Harrietstown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Harrietstown’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.