Photo: Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Utica faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Utica gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then tornadoes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 133 claims here since 1990.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Utica’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Utica faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Utica’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Utica, and Utica’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 16%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Utica’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $649K a year in losses across Utica: $461K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Utica flood? Yes: 133 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Utica, from FEMA’s records: 310.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Central U.S. April Flooding39 claims · $1.9M
- The Mid-spring storms7 claims · $89K
Utica isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clark County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Utica
Disasters that paid out in Utica itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Utica), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$85K to the Town of Utica for repairs40 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding27 households applied for aid$85K aid approved$33K to the Town of Utica for repairs43 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and$54K to the Town of Utica for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$23K to the Town of Utica for repairs
Clark County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Utica after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Utica archive →Utica and its neighbors
Utica has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utica | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 133 |
| Utica Township | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Jeffersonville | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 144 |
| Louisville | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Utica faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Utica
Is Utica at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Utica has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and tornadoes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Utica flood?
Flood insurance has paid 133 claims in Utica since 1990, $4.7M in all, or 310.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 30 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Central U.S. April Flooding (39).
Is Utica in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Clark County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Utica?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Utica’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Utica?
By FEMA money that reached Utica, Severe Storms and Flooding (2018): 27 households applied for aid, $85K approved, and $33K to the Town of Utica for repairs. By flood claims, Central U.S. April Flooding: 39 paid, $1.9M.
Is Utica at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Utica’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Utica.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Utica’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.