Rock Island Light Station · Photo: Oralrobert33 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Orleans than in 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Orleans gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #208 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1979.
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 Orleans 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 Orleans’ grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Orleans, and Orleans’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
A #208 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Orleans’ 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, Orleans has less expected damage per building than 73% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $678K a year in losses across Orleans: $583K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Orleans flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Orleans, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Orleans isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Jefferson County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Orleans
Disasters that paid out in Orleans itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Orleans), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Flooding$4K to the Town of Orleans for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Snow$5K to the Town of Orleans for repairs
Jefferson County has had 15 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 Orleans after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Orleans archive →Orleans and its neighbors
Orleans is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pamelia | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Le Ray | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Clayton | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Orleans | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Brownville | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Alexandria | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Theresa | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Thousand Island Park | — | 222 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 Orleans 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 Orleans
Is Orleans at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Orleans has lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #208 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Orleans flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Orleans since 1979, $39K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Orleans 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 Jefferson County, 0.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Orleans?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Orleans’ 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 Orleans?
By FEMA money that reached Orleans, Snow (1999): $5K to the Town of Orleans for repairs.
Is Orleans at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Orleans’ rate for it is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Orleans.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Orleans’ 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.