Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to St. Johnsbury

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
St. Johnsbury 5-18-2026Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0
BHazard risk
Natural hazards in St. Johnsbury · FEMA

FEMA puts St. Johnsbury’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Johnsbury gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #41 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 49 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 85%Hurricanes 8%Earthquakes 3%

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

less than 62%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#41 of 71 in Vermont
Hazard risk
B#41 of 71
in Vermont · lower than 62% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
85% of expected building damage
Flood claims
49
paid since 1978 · $781K
Flooded more than once
5
properties
Disasters paid out here
11
of 26 declared for Caledonia County

What stands out about St. Johnsbury’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 62% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Moved out of harm’s way8 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 201117 flood claims were paid for 2011 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What St. Johnsbury 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

85%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

8%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Strong wind Ice storms Winter storms Tornadoes Lightning Hail Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 10% of St. Johnsbury’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind St. Johnsbury’s grade

River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in St. Johnsbury, and St. Johnsbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).

Where St. Johnsbury sits
St. Johnsbury
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B #41 of 71 in Vermont; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).

St. Johnsbury’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding85%Hurricanes8%Earthquakes3%Everything else4%

The typical Vermont town has lower expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, St. Johnsbury has more expected damage per building than 57% of Vermont towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across St. Johnsbury: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. St. Johnsbury covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does St. Johnsbury flood? Sometimes: 49 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in St. Johnsbury, from FEMA’s records: 13.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 1 claim1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 1 claim1983: 1 claim1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 1 claim1991: 0 claims1992: 1 claim1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 2 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 11 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 1 claim2006: 2 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 17 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 1 claim2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 1 claim2023: 0 claims2024: 8 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200220112024
19782026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Irene7 claims · $199K
49
paid claims since 1978
$781K
paid to owners
5
homes flooded more than once
$16K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of all homes are insured
No community discount

St. Johnsbury 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.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
8flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to St. Johnsbury

Disasters that paid out in St. Johnsbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of St. Johnsbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides102 households applied for aid$736K aid approved$728K to the Town of St. Johnsbury for repairs
  2. 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides91 households applied for aid$360K aid approved$2.2M to the Town of St. Johnsbury for repairs
  3. 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides14 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$153K to the Town of St. Johnsbury for repairs
  4. 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to the Town of St. Johnsbury for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  5. 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$47K to the Town of St. Johnsbury for repairs
  6. 2011Tropical Storm Irene19 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$31K to the Town of St. Johnsbury for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $199K
Show all 11
  1. 2011Severe Storms and Flooding122 households applied for aid$130K aid approved$469K to the Town of St. Johnsbury for repairs
  2. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to the Town of St. Johnsbury for repairs
  3. 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$7K to the Town of St. Johnsbury for repairs
  4. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to the Town of St. Johnsbury for repairs
  5. 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$33K to the Town of St. Johnsbury for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in St. JohnsburyCaledonia County only

Caledonia County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.

Were you here?

Old photos of St. Johnsbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the St. Johnsbury archive →
Next door

St. Johnsbury and its neighbors

St. Johnsbury is 2nd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Danville: hazard risk A−Kirby: not gradedLyndon: hazard risk B−Waterford: hazard risk BBarnet: hazard risk BDanvilleKirbyLyndonWaterfordBarnetSt. Johnsbury
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
DanvilleA−less damage than 83%river and rain flooding—
St. JohnsburyBless damage than 62%river and rain flooding49
WaterfordBless damage than 62%river and rain flooding—
BarnetBless damage than 62%river and rain flooding9
LyndonB−less damage than 54%river and rain flooding80
Kirby—756 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.

Be ready

Get ready for what St. Johnsbury faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in St. Johnsbury

Is St. Johnsbury at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Johnsbury has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #41 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does St. Johnsbury flood?

Flood insurance has paid 49 claims in St. Johnsbury since 1978, $781K in all, or 13.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (7).

Is St. Johnsbury 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 St. Johnsbury?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for St. Johnsbury’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 St. Johnsbury?

By FEMA money that reached St. Johnsbury, Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): 91 households applied for aid, $360K approved, and $2.2M to the Town of St. Johnsbury for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 7 paid, $199K.

Is St. Johnsbury at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and St. Johnsbury’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in St. Johnsbury.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where St. Johnsbury’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.