Sacandaga Railroad Station · Photo: Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Northampton 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, Northampton gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1981.
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 Northampton 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 Northampton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Northampton, and Northampton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Northampton’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Northampton: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Northampton flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Northampton, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Northampton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Fulton County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Northampton
Disasters that paid out in Northampton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Northampton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$31K to the Town of Northampton for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$8K to the Town of Northampton for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$23K to the Town of Northampton for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$2K to the Town of Northampton for repairs
Fulton County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Northampton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Northampton archive →Northampton and its neighbors
Northampton is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburg | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Mayfield | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Northampton | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Broadalbin | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hope | — | 587 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Benson | — | 271 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 Northampton 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 Northampton
Is Northampton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Northampton has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). 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 Northampton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Northampton since 1981, $2K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Northampton 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 Fulton County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Northampton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Northampton’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 Northampton?
By FEMA money that reached Northampton, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $31K to the Town of Northampton for repairs.
Is Northampton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Northampton’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Northampton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Northampton’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.