Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Bainbridge’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bainbridge gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #740 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 35 claims here since 1978.
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 Bainbridge 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
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 Bainbridge’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bainbridge, and Bainbridge’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D #740 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bainbridge’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Bainbridge has more expected damage per building than 98% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Bainbridge: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bainbridge flood? Sometimes: 35 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bainbridge, from FEMA’s records: 21.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee17 claims · $357K
Bainbridge isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chenango County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bainbridge
Disasters that paid out in Bainbridge itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Bainbridge), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$12K to the Town of Bainbridge for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$132K to the Town of Bainbridge for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $357K
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$89K to the Town of Bainbridge for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$540K to the Town of Bainbridge for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$4K to the Town of Bainbridge for repairs
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$44K to the Town of Bainbridge for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$4K to the Town of Bainbridge for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$10K to the Town of Bainbridge for repairs
Chenango County has had 24 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; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Bainbridge after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bainbridge archive →Bainbridge and its neighbors
Bainbridge is 7th of the 8 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 331 |
| Sidney | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Masonville | C−more damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Unadilla | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Guilford | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Coventry | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Bainbridge | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Afton | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
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 Bainbridge 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.
- 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 Bainbridge
Is Bainbridge at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bainbridge has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #740 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bainbridge flood?
Flood insurance has paid 35 claims in Bainbridge since 1978, $686K in all, or 21.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (17).
Is Bainbridge 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 Chenango County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bainbridge?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bainbridge’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 Bainbridge?
By FEMA money that reached Bainbridge, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): $540K to the Town of Bainbridge for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 17 paid, $357K.
Is Bainbridge at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Bainbridge’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bainbridge.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bainbridge’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.