Lamoille County, Vermont
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Lamoille County, Vermont has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 12th 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 $408 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (31 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (severe storms and flooding). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (125 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.7 million on 174 claims here, including $4.0 million for floods in 2023.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Lamoille 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 | 42.8 | $8M | ||
| Cold wave | 27.2 | $563K | ||
| Hurricane | 61.6 | $377K | ||
| Winter weather | 79.1 | $307K | ||
| Lightning | 39.7 | $245K | ||
| Strong wind | 18.2 | $244K | ||
| Earthquake | 40.5 | $244K | ||
| Heat wave | 21.7 | $110K | ||
| Tornado | 10.0 | $99K | ||
| Ice storm | 39.9 | $81K | ||
| Hail | 4.8 | $17K | ||
| Landslide | 74.9 | $14K | ||
| Wildfire | 14.0 | $7K | ||
| Avalanche | 56.1 | $2K |
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 Lamoille County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 36
Vermont also had 2 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1960
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 180 storm reports in Lamoille County since 1960, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $13.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 24, 1960.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 1960 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 18, 2008 | EF1 | North Cambridge | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 18, 2008 | EF0 | North Cambridge | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2011 | Flood | Moscow | $4M |
| Apr 26, 2011 | Flood | Lake Elmore | $2M |
| Jun 23, 2024 | Flash Flood | Stowe Fork | $1M |
| Jul 12, 2004 | Flash Flood | Stowe | $800K |
| Apr 26, 2011 | Flash Flood | Stowe | $750K |
| Nov 1, 2019 | Flash Flood | Morses Mill | $750K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 1, 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 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Lamoille County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 65 mph about 58 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 58 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 58 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 Lamoille 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 Lamoille 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; 14,320 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 | |
| Washington County | 31 | |
| Franklin County | 28 | |
| Caledonia County | 29 | |
| Orleans County | 31 |
Common questions about Lamoille County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Lamoille County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lamoille County, about $8.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $562,932.
How many federal disasters has Lamoille County had?
Lamoille County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 31 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in September 2024.
Is Lamoille County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 12th 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 Lamoille County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Lamoille 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 Lamoille County had?
NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Lamoille County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 24, 1960. The weather service has also logged 31 hail reports and 50 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Lamoille County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Lamoille 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.