Photo: Doug Kerr (Flickr username: dougtone) · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Ferrisburgh faces less hazard damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ferrisburgh gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #24 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1983.
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 Ferrisburgh’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Ferrisburgh 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 Ferrisburgh’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ferrisburgh, and Ferrisburgh’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #24 of 71 in Vermont; lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Ferrisburgh’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Vermont town has lower expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Ferrisburgh has less expected damage per building than 67% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $928K a year in losses across Ferrisburgh: $764K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ferrisburgh flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ferrisburgh, from FEMA’s records: 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Ferrisburgh isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Addison County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ferrisburgh
Disasters that paid out in Ferrisburgh itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Ferrisburgh), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides8 households applied for aid$52K aid approved$45K to the Town of Ferrisburgh for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$2K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
Addison County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Ferrisburgh after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ferrisburgh archive →Ferrisburgh and its neighbors
Ferrisburgh 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vergennes | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| New Haven | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Charlotte | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Ferrisburgh | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Monkton | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Westport | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Waltham | — | 452 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Panton | — | 690 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 Ferrisburgh 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 Ferrisburgh
Is Ferrisburgh at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ferrisburgh has lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #24 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (6%). 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 Ferrisburgh flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Ferrisburgh since 1983, $170K in all, or 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Ferrisburgh 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 Addison County, 0.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Ferrisburgh?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ferrisburgh’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 Ferrisburgh?
By FEMA money that reached Ferrisburgh, Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): 8 households applied for aid, $52K approved, and $45K to the Town of Ferrisburgh for repairs.
Is Ferrisburgh at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Ferrisburgh’s rate for it is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ferrisburgh.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ferrisburgh’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.