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Caledonia County, Vermont

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
8th of 14highest risk in Vermont
$11Mexpected losses a year
29federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Caledonia County, Vermont has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 70% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 14 counties in Vermont. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $356 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (25 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (123 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.1 million on 271 claims here, including $2.3 million for floods in 2024.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Caledonia County

$7.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$739,854 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 20 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow52.8
$8M
Cold waveLow50.4
$1M
HurricaneLow71.3
$740K
Strong windLow23.2
$237K
EarthquakeVery Low44.9
$224K
LightningLow46.1
$223K
Heat waveVery Low27.3
$126K
Winter weatherModerate61.7
$106K
Ice stormLow48.0
$86K
TornadoVery Low10.3
$74K
HailVery Low6.6
$21K
LandslideLow78.5
$15K
WildfireVery Low17.8
$7K
AvalancheVery Low31.6
$131

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Caledonia County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood12
Severe Storm12
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm1
Tropical Storm1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 8, 2024Tropical Depression DebbyEmergency
Jul 14, 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2023FloodingEmergency
Aug 22, 2021Tropical Storm HenriEmergency
Aug 16, 2017Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 11, 2014Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 29, 2014Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Aug 2, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 29
Sep 1, 2011Tropical Storm IreneMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Jul 8, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 15, 2008Severe Storms, A Tornado, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 10, 1999Tropical Storm FloydMajor disaster
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 25, 1997Excessive Rainfall, High Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 16, 1995Excessive Rainfall, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 18, 1992Heavy Rains, Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 25, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 11, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 1984Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 5, 1976Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 6, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & LandslidesMajor disaster

Vermont also had 2 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1964

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 305 storm reports in Caledonia County since 1964, with 3 deaths and 16 injuries and about $30.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on August 3, 2010 near Peacham.

1tornadoes
64hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
170damaging thunderstorm winds
55floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 3, 2010EF0Peacham0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 28, 2011FloodEast Burke$5M
Jul 30, 2024Flash FloodNorth Danville$4M
Jul 10, 2024Flash FloodSouth Peacham$3M
May 26, 2011Flash FloodRicker Mills$3M
Jul 30, 2024Flash FloodDanville$2M
Jul 30, 2024Flash FloodDanville$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1893, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Caledonia County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 65 mph about 47 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1971most recent: Doria

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph47 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 50 mph49 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 50 mph49 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph47 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Caledonia County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (123 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.1 millionpaid on 271 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $2.3 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Caledonia County

$227,900median home value (Vermont $316,600, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Vermont 1976, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.8%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 16,164 housing units.

Compare in Vermont

All 14 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Chittenden CountyLowInland flooding
Rutland CountyLowInland flooding
Washington CountyLowInland flooding
Windsor CountyLowInland flooding
Franklin CountyVery LowInland flooding
Windham CountyLowInland flooding
Bennington CountyLowInland flooding
Addison CountyVery LowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Grafton County, NHModerate38
Washington CountyLow31
Orange CountyVery Low32
Orleans CountyVery Low31
Lamoille CountyVery Low36
Essex CountyVery Low28

Common questions about Caledonia County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Caledonia County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Caledonia County, about $7.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Caledonia County had?

Caledonia County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 25 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in September 2024.

Is Caledonia County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 8th highest of 14 in Vermont. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Caledonia County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Caledonia County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Caledonia County had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Caledonia County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on August 3, 2010 near Peacham. The weather service has also logged 64 hail reports and 55 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Caledonia County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Caledonia County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with winds near 65 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.