Natural hazards · Shelburne

Shelburne, VT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Shelburne comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1979. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Shelburne?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Shelburne to be higher than in 16% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding74%Everything else26%

By hazard

What Shelburne 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

Below average · higher than 38% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 Shelburne flood?

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

5paid claims since 1979

$119Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19792026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Chittenden County.

Disasters that hit Shelburne

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into ShelburneDeclared for Chittenden County only

2024

Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

18 households applied for aid $129K aid approved

2023

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

6 households applied for aid $6K aid approved

2018

Severe Storm and Flooding

$21K to the Town of Shelburne for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

5 households applied for aid $785 aid approved

2011

Severe Storms and Flooding

17 households applied for aid $11K aid approved $40K to the Town of Shelburne for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

$19K to the Town of Shelburne for repairs

2001

Snow

$9K to the Town of Shelburne for repairs

Chittenden County has had 29 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Shelburne

Shelburne and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Willsboromostly inland floodingHigh

Charlottemostly inland floodingLow

Shelburnemostly inland floodingVery low

St. Georgemostly inland floodingVery low

Hinesburgmostly 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. Shelburne covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Shelburne’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Shelburne. 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 Shelburne total about $2.2M 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.