US Post Office-Waverly · Photo: Malachi77 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Barton than in 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barton gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #665 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 65 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 stands out about Barton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Barton 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 Barton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Barton, and Barton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
C #665 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Barton’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, Barton has more expected damage per building than 88% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Barton: $3.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Barton flood? Sometimes: 65 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Barton, from FEMA’s records: 15.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee13 claims · $705K
- The Torrential rain4 claims · $139K
Barton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Tioga County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Barton
Disasters that paid out in Barton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Barton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee164 households applied for aid$684K aid approved$163K to the Town of Barton for repairs13 flood claims paid for it, $705K
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$28K to the Town of Barton for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding34 households applied for aid$76K aid approved$445K to the Town of Barton for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$32K to the Town of Barton for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$4K to the Town of Barton for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Snowstorms$13K to the Town of Barton for repairs
Tioga County has had 20 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 Barton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Barton archive →Barton and its neighbors
Barton is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemung | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Waverly | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Nichols | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 87 |
| Tioga | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 110 |
| Barton | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 65 |
| Van Etten | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Spencer | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Baldwin | — | 816 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Barton 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 Barton
Is Barton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barton has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #665 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 Barton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 65 claims in Barton since 1978, $1.3M in all, or 15.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (13).
Is Barton 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 Tioga County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Barton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Barton’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 Barton?
By FEMA money that reached Barton, Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 164 households applied for aid, $684K approved, and $163K to the Town of Barton for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 13 paid, $705K.
Is Barton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Barton’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Barton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Barton’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.