Heintzelman Library · Photo: Ɱ (Taken by Arnold Feist, original file transferred to User:Ɱ) · CC0On FEMA’s figures, Horicon faces more hazard damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Horicon gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 7 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 Horicon 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 Horicon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Horicon, and Horicon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Horicon’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Horicon: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Horicon flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Horicon, from FEMA’s records: 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Horicon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Warren County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Horicon
Disasters that paid out in Horicon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Horicon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$163K to the Town of Horicon for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$70K to the Town of Horicon for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$51K to the Town of Horicon for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to the Town of Horicon for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$61K to the Town of Horicon for repairs
Warren County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe 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 Horicon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Horicon archive →Horicon and its neighbors
Horicon is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schroon | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Bolton | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Warrensburg | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Chester | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Horicon | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Pottersville | — | 140 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Hague | — | 703 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 Horicon 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 Horicon
Is Horicon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Horicon has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). 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 Horicon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Horicon since 1978, $115K in all, or 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Horicon 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 Warren County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Horicon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Horicon’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 Horicon?
By FEMA money that reached Horicon, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $163K to the Town of Horicon for repairs.
Is Horicon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Horicon’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Horicon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Horicon’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.