Photo: Gary Stevens · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Massena 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, Massena gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #509 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%), then earthquakes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2010.
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 Massena 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 Massena’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Massena, and Massena’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #509 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Massena’s residents live in 4 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, Massena has more expected damage per building than 67% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Massena: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Massena flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2010
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Massena, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Massena 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 Massena
Disasters that paid out in Massena itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Massena), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby$12K to the Village of Massena for repairs
- 1999Snow$11K to the Village of Massena for repairs
- 4 households applied for aid$35K aid approved
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 Massena after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Massena archive →Get ready for what Massena 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 Massena
Is Massena at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Massena has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #509 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and earthquakes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Massena flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Massena since 2010, $11K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Massena 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 Massena?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Massena’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 Massena?
By FEMA money that reached Massena, (): 4 households applied for aid, $35K approved.
Is Massena at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Massena’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Massena.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Massena’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.