Caledonia County, Vermont
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 52.8 | $8M | ||
| Cold wave | 50.4 | $1M | ||
| Hurricane | 71.3 | $740K | ||
| Strong wind | 23.2 | $237K | ||
| Earthquake | 44.9 | $224K | ||
| Lightning | 46.1 | $223K | ||
| Heat wave | 27.3 | $126K | ||
| Winter weather | 61.7 | $106K | ||
| Ice storm | 48.0 | $86K | ||
| Tornado | 10.3 | $74K | ||
| Hail | 6.6 | $21K | ||
| Landslide | 78.5 | $15K | ||
| Wildfire | 17.8 | $7K | ||
| Avalanche | 31.6 | $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
Most recent
Show all 29
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 3, 2010 | EF0 | Peacham | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2011 | Flood | East Burke | $5M |
| Jul 30, 2024 | Flash Flood | North Danville | $4M |
| Jul 10, 2024 | Flash Flood | South Peacham | $3M |
| May 26, 2011 | Flash Flood | Ricker Mills | $3M |
| Jul 30, 2024 | Flash Flood | Danville | $2M |
| Jul 30, 2024 | Flash Flood | Danville | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 47 mi |
| Aug 29, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 28, 1971 | Doria | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 49 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 1971 | Doria | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 49 mi |
| Aug 29, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 24, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 47 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Chittenden County | Inland flooding | |
| Rutland County | Inland flooding | |
| Washington County | Inland flooding | |
| Windsor County | Inland flooding | |
| Franklin County | Inland flooding | |
| Windham County | Inland flooding | |
| Bennington County | Inland flooding | |
| Addison County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Grafton County, NH | 38 | |
| Washington County | 31 | |
| Orange County | 32 | |
| Orleans County | 31 | |
| Lamoille County | 36 | |
| Essex County | 28 |
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.