Natural hazards · Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Plattsburgh comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 19 claims here since 1981. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Plattsburgh?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Plattsburgh to be higher than in 39% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding74%Earthquakes13%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Plattsburgh faces

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

Inland flooding

74% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 61% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

13% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 77% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Plattsburgh flood?

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

19paid claims since 1981

$1.3Mpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19812026

Homes that flooded again and again

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

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Clinton County.

Disasters that hit Plattsburgh

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into PlattsburghDeclared for Clinton County only

2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$48K to the City of Plattsburgh for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

80 households applied for aid $109K aid approved $46K to the City of Plattsburgh for repairs

2011

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

$1.5M to the City of Plattsburgh for repairs

Clinton County has had 14 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

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. Plattsburgh covers 7 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Plattsburgh’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Plattsburgh. 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 Plattsburgh total about $7.0M 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.