Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Plattsburgh 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, Plattsburgh gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #455 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then earthquakes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 19 claims 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 Plattsburgh 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 Plattsburgh’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Plattsburgh, and Plattsburgh’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 12% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
B #455 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Plattsburgh’s residents live in 7 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, Plattsburgh has more expected damage per building than 60% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.0M a year in losses across Plattsburgh: $6.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Plattsburgh flood? Sometimes: 19 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Plattsburgh, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Plattsburgh isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clinton County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Plattsburgh
Disasters that paid out in Plattsburgh itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Plattsburgh), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$48K to the City of Plattsburgh for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene80 households applied for aid$109K aid approved$46K to the City of Plattsburgh for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$1.5M to the City of Plattsburgh for repairs
Clinton County has had 13 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 Plattsburgh after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Plattsburgh archive →Plattsburgh and its neighbors
Plattsburgh has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plattsburgh | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Parc | — | 98 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 Plattsburgh 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 Plattsburgh
Is Plattsburgh at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plattsburgh has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #455 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Plattsburgh flood?
Flood insurance has paid 19 claims in Plattsburgh since 1981, $1.3M in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Plattsburgh 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 Clinton County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Plattsburgh?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Plattsburgh’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 Plattsburgh?
By FEMA money that reached Plattsburgh, Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds (2011): $1.5M to the City of Plattsburgh for repairs.
Is Plattsburgh at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Plattsburgh’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Plattsburgh.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Plattsburgh’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.