Photo: The original uploader was Duke53 at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5On FEMA’s figures, Tupper Lake faces more hazard damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tupper Lake gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #653 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1978.
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 Tupper Lake 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 Tupper Lake’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tupper Lake, and Tupper Lake’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 5% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
C #653 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tupper Lake’s residents live in 2 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, Tupper Lake has more expected damage per building than 86% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Tupper Lake: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tupper Lake flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tupper Lake, from FEMA’s records: 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Tupper Lake isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Franklin County.The storms Tupper Lake remembers
None of the 14 disasters declared for Franklin County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Tupper Lake itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20112 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Irene, declared for Franklin County
- 19781 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19791 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Franklin County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical 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 Tupper Lake after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tupper Lake archive →Get ready for what Tupper Lake 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 Tupper Lake
Is Tupper Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tupper Lake has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #653 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tupper Lake flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Tupper Lake since 1978, $15K in all, or 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Tupper Lake 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 Franklin County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Tupper Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tupper Lake’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Tupper Lake at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Tupper Lake’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tupper Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tupper Lake’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.