Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Walkerma assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Norwood 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, Norwood gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim 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 Norwood 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 Norwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Norwood, and Norwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 10% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
B lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Norwood’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $461K a year in losses across Norwood: $361K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Norwood flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2010
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Norwood, from FEMA’s records: 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Norwood 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Norwood
Disasters that paid out in Norwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Norwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 1999Snow$4K to the Village of Norwood 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 Norwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Norwood archive →Get ready for what Norwood 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 Norwood
Is Norwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Norwood has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and earthquakes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Norwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Norwood since 2010, $5K in all, or 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Norwood 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 Norwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Norwood’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 Norwood?
By FEMA money that reached Norwood, Snow (1999): $4K to the Village of Norwood for repairs.
Is Norwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Norwood’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Norwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Norwood’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.