Jonathan Wallace House · Photo: Mwanner · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Potsdam’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Potsdam gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #330 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then earthquakes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2024.
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 Potsdam 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 Potsdam’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Potsdam, and Potsdam’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 13% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #330 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Potsdam’s residents live in 5 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, Potsdam has less expected damage per building than 57% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Potsdam: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Potsdam flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2024
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Potsdam, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Debby1 claim · $1.0M
Potsdam 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.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Potsdam
Disasters that paid out in Potsdam itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Potsdam), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby$20K to the Town of Potsdam for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $1.0M
- 1999Snow$6K to the Town of Potsdam 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 Potsdam after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Potsdam archive →Potsdam and its neighbors
Potsdam has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potsdam | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Canton | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Madrid | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Pierrepont | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Stockholm | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Norfolk | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Parishville | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hannawa Falls | — | 744 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 Potsdam 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 Potsdam
Is Potsdam at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Potsdam has lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #330 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Potsdam flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Potsdam since 2024, $1.0M in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Debby (1).
Is Potsdam 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 Potsdam?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Potsdam’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 Potsdam?
By FEMA money that reached Potsdam, Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby (2024): $20K to the Town of Potsdam for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Debby: 1 paid, $1.0M.
Is Potsdam at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Potsdam’s rate for it is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Potsdam.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Potsdam’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.