Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Barnet than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barnet gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 9 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 Barnet 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 Barnet’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Barnet, and Barnet’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% 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 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Barnet’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $646K a year in losses across Barnet: $537K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Barnet flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Barnet, from FEMA’s records: 8.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Barnet isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Caledonia County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Barnet
Disasters that paid out in Barnet itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Barnet), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides5 households applied for aid$27K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides51 households applied for aid$443K aid approved$2.0M to the Town of Barnet for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides6 households applied for aid$64K aid approved
- 2017Severe Storms and Flooding$275K to the Town of Barnet for repairs
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$12K to the Town of Barnet for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene5 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$55K to the Town of Barnet for repairs
Show all 10
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding23 households applied for aid$22K aid approved$721K to the Town of Barnet for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$30K to the Town of Barnet for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$41K to the Town of Barnet for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$18K to the Town of Barnet for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Caledonia County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Barnet after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Barnet archive →Barnet and its neighbors
Barnet is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danville | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | — |
| St. Johnsbury | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Waterford | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Barnet | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Ryegate | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Littleton | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Monroe | — | 786 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Peacham | — | 887 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 Barnet 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 Barnet
Is Barnet at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barnet has lower expected damage per building than 62% 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.
Does Barnet flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Barnet since 1981, $151K in all, or 8.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Barnet 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 Caledonia County, 0.9% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Barnet?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Barnet’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 Barnet?
By FEMA money that reached Barnet, Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): 51 households applied for aid, $443K approved, and $2.0M to the Town of Barnet for repairs.
Is Barnet at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Barnet’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Barnet.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Barnet’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.