Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Morristown than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morristown gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #16 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1995.
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 Morristown 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 Morristown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Morristown, and Morristown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #16 of 71 in Vermont; lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Morristown’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, Morristown has less expected damage per building than 79% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Morristown: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Morristown flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Morristown, from FEMA’s records: 2.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Vermont/New York Flooding2 claims · $238K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $203K
Morristown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lamoille County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Morristown
Disasters that paid out in Morristown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Morristown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$46K to the Town of Morristown for repairs
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$525K to the Town of Morristown for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides6 households applied for aid$15K aid approved$115K to the Town of Morristown for repairs
- 2019Severe Storm and Flooding$430K to the Town of Morristown for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene1 households applied for aid$18K to the Town of Morristown for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $203K
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$180K to the Town of Morristown for repairs
Show all 8
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Town of Morristown for repairs
- 2001Snow$12K to the Town of Morristown for repairs
Lamoille County has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Morristown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Morristown archive →Morristown and its neighbors
Morristown 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyde Park | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Morristown | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Stowe | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Johnson | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Cambridge | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Elmore | — | 964 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Hyde Park | — | 513 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 Morristown 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 Morristown
Is Morristown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morristown has lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #16 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (5%). 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 Morristown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Morristown since 1995, $506K in all, or 2.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Vermont/New York Flooding (2).
Is Morristown 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 Lamoille County, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Morristown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Morristown’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 Morristown?
By FEMA money that reached Morristown, Severe Storm and Flooding (2023): $525K to the Town of Morristown for repairs. By flood claims, Vermont/New York Flooding: 2 paid, $238K.
Is Morristown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Morristown’s rate for it is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Morristown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Morristown’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.