Natural hazards · Highgate

Highgate, VT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Highgate comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1996. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Highgate?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

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

Inland flooding67%Earthquakes9%Cold waves6%Lightning5%Everything else14%

By hazard

What Highgate faces

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

Inland flooding

67% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 51% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 71% of U.S. places

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 44% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lightning

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong wind

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 Highgate flood?

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

3paid claims since 1996

$34Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19962026

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Franklin County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

4flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Highgate

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into HighgateDeclared for Franklin County only

2023

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$11K to the Town of Highgate for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storms

$4K to the Town of Highgate for repairs

2011

Severe Storms and Flooding

$24K to the Town of Highgate for repairs

Franklin County has had 27 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Highgate

Highgate and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Swantonmostly inland floodingLow

Highgatemostly inland floodingLow

Franklinmostly inland floodingLow

Sheldonmostly 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. Highgate covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Highgate’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Highgate. 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 Highgate total about $777K 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.