U.S. Customshouse · Photo: General Services Administration · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Ogdensburg as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ogdensburg gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #466 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). 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 Ogdensburg 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 Ogdensburg’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ogdensburg, and Ogdensburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B #466 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ogdensburg’s residents live in 3 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, Ogdensburg has more expected damage per building than 61% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Ogdensburg: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ogdensburg flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ogdensburg, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Ogdensburg 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 Ogdensburg
Disasters that paid out in Ogdensburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Ogdensburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$481K to the City of Ogdensburg for repairs
- 2017Flooding$376K to the City of Ogdensburg for repairs
- 1999Snow$19K to the City of Ogdensburg 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 Ogdensburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ogdensburg archive →Ogdensburg and its neighbors
Ogdensburg is 2nd of the 3 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 | — |
| Ogdensburg | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Oswegatchie | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Ogdensburg 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 Ogdensburg
Is Ogdensburg at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ogdensburg has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #466 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ogdensburg flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Ogdensburg since 1983, $1K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Ogdensburg 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 Ogdensburg?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ogdensburg’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 Ogdensburg?
By FEMA money that reached Ogdensburg, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2022): $481K to the City of Ogdensburg for repairs.
Is Ogdensburg at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Ogdensburg’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ogdensburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ogdensburg’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.