Grand Isle County, Vermont
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Grand Isle County, Vermont has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 14th of 14 counties in Vermont. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $4.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $544 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2024 (Tropical Depression Debby). About 1 in 67 homes here carry federal flood insurance (78 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $754,000 on 59 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Grand Isle 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 12.8 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 11.6 | $172K | ||
| Earthquake | 30.6 | $161K | ||
| Lightning | 21.1 | $144K | ||
| Cold wave | 7.4 | $90K | ||
| Ice storm | 34.7 | $81K | ||
| Heat wave | 13.7 | $60K | ||
| Hurricane | 34.5 | $40K | ||
| Tornado | 4.8 | $35K | ||
| Winter weather | 18.2 | $31K | ||
| Hail | 1.8 | $5K | ||
| Wildfire | 4.6 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 8.3 | $37 |
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 very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Grand Isle County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
Vermont also had 2 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 94 storm reports in Grand Isle County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $2.8 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 28, 2016 | Lightning | Keeler Bay | $2M |
| Aug 16, 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Grand Isle | $250K |
| Jun 10, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alburg | $100K |
| Jul 18, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Isle La Motte | $100K |
| Jul 1, 1998 | Flash Flood | South Hero | $50K |
| Aug 7, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Isle La Motte | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 2025. 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.
Flood insurance in Grand Isle 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 Grand Isle 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; 5,326 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chittenden County | 30 | |
| Clinton County, NY | 15 | |
| Franklin County | 28 |
Common questions about Grand Isle County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Grand Isle County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Grand Isle County, about $3.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $172,409.
How many federal disasters has Grand Isle County had?
Grand Isle County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Depression Debby in August 2024.
Is Grand Isle County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 14th 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 Grand Isle County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 67 homes in Grand Isle 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 Grand Isle County had?
NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Grand Isle County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 18 hail reports and 2 floods here.
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.