FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Madrid than in 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Madrid gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%), then earthquakes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1983.
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 Madrid 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 Madrid’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Madrid, and Madrid’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Madrid’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $440K a year in losses across Madrid: $318K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Madrid flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Madrid, from FEMA’s records: 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Madrid 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 Madrid
Disasters that paid out in Madrid itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Madrid), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby$26K to the Town of Madrid for repairs
- 1999Snow$6K to the Town of Madrid 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 Madrid after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Madrid archive →Madrid and its neighbors
Madrid is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Potsdam | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Waddington | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Madrid | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Norfolk | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Madrid 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 Madrid
Is Madrid at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Madrid has lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (11%). 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 Madrid flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Madrid since 1983, $4K in all, or 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Madrid 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 Madrid?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Madrid’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 Madrid?
By FEMA money that reached Madrid, Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby (2024): $26K to the Town of Madrid for repairs.
Is Madrid at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Madrid’s rate for it is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Madrid.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Madrid’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.