Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Philmont 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, Philmont gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Philmont 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
Hurricanes
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 Philmont’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Philmont, and Philmont’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Philmont’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $494K a year in losses across Philmont: $404K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Philmont flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Philmont. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Philmont isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Columbia County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Philmont
Disasters that paid out in Philmont itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Philmont), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$8K to the Village of Philmont for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene8 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$41K to the Village of Philmont for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$5K to the Village of Philmont for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$4K to the Village of Philmont for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$90K to the Village of Philmont for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$8K to the Village of Philmont for repairs
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$4K to the Village of Philmont for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$9K to the Village of Philmont for repairs
Columbia County has had 19 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 Philmont after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Philmont archive →Get ready for what Philmont 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Philmont
Is Philmont at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Philmont has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (8%). 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.
Is Philmont 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 Columbia County, 0.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Philmont?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Philmont’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 Philmont?
By FEMA money that reached Philmont, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $90K to the Village of Philmont for repairs.
Is Philmont at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Philmont’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Philmont.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Philmont’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.