95 flood insurance claims·$1.7M paid·3 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around St. Lawrence County, New York. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flash flooding and general flooding events evenly dominate the flood character of St. Lawrence County, based on 35 total NOAA Storm Events recorded over the last 30 years.
Severe impacts are demonstrated by the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby on August 9, 2024, which dropped 3 to 7 inches of excessive rainfall in a 50 to 75-mile swath. This event caused widespread flash flooding, damaged or washed out over 100 roads, damaged and destroyed several bridges, caused home flood damage in a few locations, and necessitated several swift water rescues.
NFIP claim data shows that properties in Zone A experienced the highest impact, logging 61 claims with an average payout of $33,526 and an average recorded water depth of 10 inches. Properties in Zone X recorded an average water depth of 8 inches across 7 claims with an average payout of $10,158. Meanwhile, Zone X_Unshaded recorded 14 claims averaging $11,646 with an average water depth of 3 inches, and unknown zones recorded 13 claims averaging $3,151 with an average water depth of 3 inches. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X should pay the most attention to these flood risks given the higher average payouts and water depths associated with these zones.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
19% of St. Lawrence County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
75 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 8 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 2014, with 13 claims and $127,675 paid.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
25 NOAA storm reports from St. Lawrence County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the New York flood stories →
19 federal disaster declarations since 1990, 3 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby | Aug 8, 2024 |
| Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Jul 10, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Dec 23, 2022 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Nov 18, 2022 |
| Flooding | May 2, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Nov 17, 2014 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Oct 27, 2012 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
35 since 1996: 17 flash floods and 18 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2024 | $1.5M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2024 | $3.0M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2024 | $500,000 |
| Flood | Aug 9, 2024 | $2.0M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 4, 2023 | $75,000 |
| Flash Flood | Dec 25, 2022 | $100,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jul 24, 2017 | $100,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jul 24, 2017 | $5,000 |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Aug 9, 2024. The remnants of TS Debby tracked through St. Lawrence County during the afternoon/early evening of August 9, 2024. This produced a 50-75 mile swath of excessive rainfall from 3 to 7 inches which led to widespread flash flooding. Subsequent information indicated over 100 roads damaged or washed out with several bridges damaged and/or destroyed. Some flood damage to homes also occurred in a few locations along with…
Flood · Aug 9, 2024. The remnants of TS Debby tracked through St. Lawrence County during the afternoon/early evening of August 9, 2024. This produced a 50-75 mile swath of excessive rainfall from 3 to 7 inches which led to widespread flash flooding. Subsequent information indicated over 100 roads damaged or washed out with several bridges damaged and/or destroyed. Some flood damage to homes also occurred in a few locations along with…
Flash Flood · Aug 4, 2023. Persistent shower and thunderstorm activity affected portions of southern St. Lawrence County, NY during the late afternoon and evening hours on August 16, 2023. This led to areas of flash flooding, particularly in the Pitcairn, NY area.
Flash Flood · Dec 25, 2022. A large and intense storm system tracked through the region from December 23-25, 2022. Heavy rain and snowmelt led to rises on the Raquette River in St. Lawrence County. Some ice breakup was noted, some of which affected portions of the Town of Pierrepoint, NY on the 25th where high water affected several homes.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in St. Lawrence County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.