Durward's Glen · Photo: TheCatalyst31 · CC0FEMA puts Caledonia’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 88% of U.S. towns, led by hail
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Caledonia gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hail (48%), then river and rain flooding (46%). Flood insurance has paid 26 claims here since 1980.
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 Caledonia’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Caledonia faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hail
River and rain flooding
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 Caledonia’s grade
Hail is 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Caledonia, and Caledonia’s rate of hail damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 46% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
D higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Caledonia’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Caledonia: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Caledonia flood? Sometimes: 26 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Caledonia, from FEMA’s records: 31.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Storm5 claims · $50K
- The March 2019 Midwest Flooding1 claim · $2K
- The 2026-04-Flooding1 claim · $30K
Caledonia isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Columbia County.The storms Caledonia remembers
None of the 8 disasters declared for Columbia County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Caledonia itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20089 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Columbia County
- 20103 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20183 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Columbia County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Caledonia after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Caledonia archive →Caledonia and its neighbors
Caledonia is 6th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lewiston | C−more damage than 83% | hail | 4 |
| Merrimac | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Portage | Dmore damage than 87% | hail | 38 |
| Pacific | Dmore damage than 88% | hail | — |
| Caledonia | Dmore damage than 88% | hail | 26 |
| West Point | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Dekorra | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Greenfield | — | 961 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 Caledonia faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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.
- 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 Caledonia
Is Caledonia at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Caledonia has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hail (48%) and river and rain flooding (46%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Caledonia flood?
Flood insurance has paid 26 claims in Caledonia since 1980, $494K in all, or 31.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Storm (5).
Is Caledonia 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 Columbia County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Caledonia?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Caledonia’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 Caledonia?
By flood claims, Storm: 5 paid, $50K.
Is Caledonia at risk from hail?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Caledonia’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Caledonia.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Caledonia’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.