Parish of the Holy Trinity · Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Swanton than in 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Swanton gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #32 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 25 claims here since 1978.
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 Swanton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Swanton 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 Swanton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Swanton, and Swanton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #32 of 71 in Vermont; lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Swanton’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, Swanton has less expected damage per building than 56% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Swanton: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Swanton flood? Sometimes: 25 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Swanton, from FEMA’s records: 8.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Swanton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Franklin County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Swanton
Disasters that paid out in Swanton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Swanton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storm and Flooding$21K to the Town of Swanton for repairs
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$7K to the Town of Swanton for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storms$9K to the Town of Swanton for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$44K to the Town of Swanton for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
Franklin County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Swanton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Swanton archive →Swanton and its neighbors
Swanton is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheldon | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Highgate | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Fairfield | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Swanton | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Alburgh | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| North Hero | — | not graded yet | |
| St. Albans | — | not graded yet | |
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 Swanton 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 Swanton
Is Swanton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Swanton has lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #32 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (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 Swanton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 25 claims in Swanton since 1978, $655K in all, or 8.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Swanton 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 Franklin County, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Swanton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Swanton’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 Swanton?
By FEMA money that reached Swanton, Severe Storms and Flooding (2011): $44K to the Town of Swanton for repairs.
Is Swanton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Swanton’s rate for it is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Swanton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Swanton’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.