Natural hazards · Chesterfield

Chesterfield, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Chesterfield comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1993. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Chesterfield?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Chesterfield to be higher than in 62% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and avalanches.

Inland flooding53%Avalanches32%Everything else16%

By hazard

What Chesterfield faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

53% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Avalanches

32% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 0% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 30 years in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtTsunamisVolcanic activity

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

Flood insurance claims

Does Chesterfield flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chesterfield, from FEMA’s records.

8paid claims since 1993

$231Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19932026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 1 claim, $13K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Chesterfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Essex County.

Disasters that hit Chesterfield

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Chesterfield itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Town of Chesterfield.

Brought FEMA money into ChesterfieldDeclared for Essex County only

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

$293K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs

2019

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$43K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs

2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$9K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs

2013

Severe Storms and Flooding

$59K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$109K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs

2011

Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds

$263K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

$111K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs

2000

Severe Storms and Flooding

$18K to the Town of Chesterfield for repairs

Essex County has had 20 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around Chesterfield

Chesterfield and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Jaymostly inland floodingHigh

Au Sablemostly inland floodingHigh

Willsboromostly inland floodingHigh

Chesterfieldmostly inland floodingHigh

Lewismostly inland floodingHigh

Colchestermostly inland floodingVery low

South Burlingtonmostly inland floodingVery low

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Chesterfield covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Chesterfield’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Chesterfield. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Chesterfield total about $1.4M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.