Natural hazards · Jamaica

Jamaica, VT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Jamaica comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 18 claims here since 1978. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Jamaica?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Jamaica to be higher than in 69% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding83%Cold waves8%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Jamaica faces

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

Inland flooding

83% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

8% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 42% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningAvalanches

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 Jamaica flood?

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

18paid claims since 1978

$446Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 12 claims, $421K
Vermont/New York Flooding: 1 claim, $12K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Windham County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Jamaica

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into JamaicaDeclared for Windham County only

2023

Severe Storm and Flooding

$384K to the Town of Jamaica for repairs

2023

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

58 households applied for aid $385K aid approved $1.5M to the Town of Jamaica for repairs

2021

Severe Storm and Flooding

$485K to the Town of Jamaica for repairs

2017

Severe Storm and Flooding

$16K to the Town of Jamaica for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

84 households applied for aid $238K aid approved $4.2M to the Town of Jamaica for repairs

2008

Severe Winter Storm

$52K to the Town of Jamaica for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

$37K to the Town of Jamaica for repairs

2000

Severe Storms and Flooding

$7K to the Town of Jamaica for repairs

Windham County has had 21 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Jamaica

Jamaica and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Jamaicamostly inland floodingHigh

Townshendmostly inland floodingHigh

Windhammostly inland floodingHigh

Winhallmostly inland floodingVery low

Strattonmostly inland floodingVery low

Wardsboromostly 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. Jamaica covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Jamaica’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Jamaica. 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 Jamaica total about $745K 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.