Natural hazards · North Elba

North Elba, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in North Elba comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 13 claims here since 1979. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is North Elba?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in North Elba to be higher than in 28% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and avalanches.

Inland flooding56%Avalanches22%Earthquakes7%Cold waves5%Everything else11%

By hazard

What North Elba faces

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

Inland flooding

56% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 52% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Avalanches

22% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 58 years in the area

Earthquakes

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places

Cold waves

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 66% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong 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 North Elba flood?

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

13paid claims since 1979

$258Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 3 claims, $192K
December Nor'easter: 1 claim, $22K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. North Elba 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 North Elba

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into North ElbaDeclared for Essex County only

2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$15K to the Town of North Elba for repairs

2011

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

$54K to the Town of North Elba for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

$149K to the Town of North Elba for repairs

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

Around North Elba

North Elba and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Newcombmostly inland floodingHigh

St. Armandmostly inland floodingHigh

Wilmingtonmostly inland floodingHigh

Saranac Lakemostly inland floodingModerate

Keenemostly inland floodingModerate

Harrietstownmostly inland floodingModerate

North Elbamostly inland floodingLow

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. North Elba covers 4 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to North Elba’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of North Elba. 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 North Elba total about $4.2M 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.