Natural hazards · South Hero

South Hero, VT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in South Hero comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1982. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is South Hero?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in South Hero to be higher than in 42% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding78%Strong wind5%Everything else17%

By hazard

What South Hero faces

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

Inland flooding

78% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Strong wind

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 74% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightning

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 South Hero flood?

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

9paid claims since 1982

$89Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19822026

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Grand Isle County.

Disasters that hit South Hero

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into South HeroDeclared for Grand Isle County only

2011

Severe Storms and Flooding

42 households applied for aid $18K aid approved $120K to the Town of South Hero for repairs

2001

Snow

$4K to the Town of South Hero for repairs

Grand Isle County has had 16 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around South Hero

South Hero and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Perumostly inland floodingModerate

Plattsburghmostly inland floodingModerate

South Heromostly inland floodingModerate

Grand Islemostly inland floodingModerate

Miltonmostly inland floodingLow

Colchestermostly 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. South Hero covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to South Hero’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of South Hero. 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 South Hero total about $1.9M 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.