Enter any address in Orange County, Vermont to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is a notable hazard in Orange County, VT. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data indicates 20 flash flood events and 13 flood events have been recorded. Recent examples include flash flooding reported in July 2023 due to torrential downpours, and widespread flooding in December 2023 caused by heavy rainfall combined with snowmelt.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows a variety of flood zones have experienced claims. Zone A, which typically has no base flood elevation (BFE) determined, has the highest number of claims at 47, with an average payout of $21,155 and an average water depth of 4.7 feet. Zone X_UNSHADED, which has a higher average payout of $79,155 and an average water depth of 5.2 feet, also warrants attention. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_UNSHADED, as well as those in any flood-prone area, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
28 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Orange County, Vermont has recorded 33 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 20 flash floods and 13 river or area floods. The county has received 34 federal disaster declarations, 11 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Depression Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 8, 2024 |
| Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jul 9, 2024 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 18, 2023 |
| Flooding | Flood | Jul 9, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jul 7, 2023 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 2022 |
| Tropical Storm Henri | Hurricane | Aug 22, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 31, 2019 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2024 | 250.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2023 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Feb 25, 2017 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2017 | 1.90M |
| Flood | Apr 15, 2014 | 300.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2013 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2013 | 200.00K |
| Flood | Aug 28, 2011 | 5.00M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 28, 2011 | 32.50M |
Flash Flood — Jul 10, 2024
The remnants of TS Beryl combined with deep tropical moisture and a stationary front draped across the region produced multiple rounds of heavy showers and storms. This led to numerous reports of flash flooding, some locally severe across a roughly 50 mile swath through Chittenden, Washington, Lamoille, Caledonia, Orleans and Essex Counties.
Flood — Dec 18, 2023
A very deep trough across the eastern seaboard allowed a deep, mild, moist flow from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic ocean to feed into the northeast United States, including VT and NY on December 17th and 18th.||Surface low pressure across Florida on December 17th moved north along the eastern seaboard into New England on December 18th. Mild, moist air delivered 1.5 to 3+ inches of rainfal...
Flash Flood — Jul 7, 2023
Clusters of showers and thunderstorms crossed the Green Mountain state on July 7, 2023. Torrential downpours were frequent with some storms repeatedly training over the southern and central Green Mountains as well in portions of northeastern Vermont where, in some cases, considerable flash flooding occurred.
Flood — Feb 25, 2017
Warm temperatures the last week of February started snow melt, and 1/2 to 1 inch of rainfall ahead of a cold front on Saturday 2/25 caused significant river rises and ice break up. Ice jam flooding closed roads, and river flooding had minor impacts. In addition, A potent storm traveling across the Northern Great Lakes, Ontario and Quebec delivered very warm temperatures into the 70s across Verm...
Flash Flood — Jul 1, 2017
Heavy rainfall of 3 to 4 inches during the past 3-4 days had pre-saturated the soils across much of central Vermont. During the afternoon of July 1st, a series of heavy rain showers and thunderstorms moved across central VT delivering very heavy localized rainfall that caused some scattered flash flooding. A few of these thunderstorms had strong winds to topple a few trees as well.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Orange County, Vermont:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Orange County, Vermont that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.