Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Derby than in 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Derby gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #28 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 28 claims here since 1994.
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 stands out about Derby’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Derby 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 Derby’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Derby, and Derby’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #28 of 71 in Vermont; lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Derby’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Vermont town has lower expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Derby has less expected damage per building than 61% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Derby: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Derby flood? Sometimes: 28 flood claims since 1994
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Derby, from FEMA’s records: 10.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Derby isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Orleans County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Derby
Disasters that paid out in Derby itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Derby), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$200K to the Town of Derby for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$18K aid approved$998K to the Town of Derby for repairs
- 2019Severe Storm and Flooding$307K to the Town of Derby for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding18 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$41K to the Town of Derby for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$44K to the Town of Derby for repairs
Show all 7
- 2001Snow$6K to the Town of Derby for repairs
Orleans County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Derby after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Derby archive →Derby and its neighbors
Derby is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newport | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Derby | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Newport | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Brownington | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Coventry | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Charleston | — | 936 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Holland | — | 790 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 Derby 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 Derby
Is Derby at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Derby has lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #28 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and hurricanes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Derby flood?
Flood insurance has paid 28 claims in Derby since 1994, $503K in all, or 10.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Derby 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 Orleans County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Derby?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Derby’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 Derby?
By FEMA money that reached Derby, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2023): 7 households applied for aid, $18K approved, and $998K to the Town of Derby for repairs.
Is Derby at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Derby’s rate for it is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Derby.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Derby’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.