Barden Cobblestone Farmhouse · Photo: Araucana · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Benton as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Benton gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #526 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1986.
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 Benton 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 Benton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Benton, and Benton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #526 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Benton’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, Benton has more expected damage per building than 69% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across Benton: $833K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Benton flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Benton, from FEMA’s records: 3.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Benton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Yates County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Benton
Disasters that paid out in Benton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Benton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$64K to the Town of Benton for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$8K to the Town of Benton for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$3K to the Town of Benton for repairs
Yates County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Benton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Benton archive →Benton and its neighbors
Benton is 6th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romulus | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Seneca | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Varick | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Geneva | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Torrey | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Benton | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Potter | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Milo | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Penn Yan | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Jerusalem | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
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 Benton 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 Benton
Is Benton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Benton has higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #526 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Benton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Benton since 1986, $95K in all, or 3.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Benton 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 Yates County, 1.5% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Benton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Benton’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 Benton?
By FEMA money that reached Benton, Severe Storms and Flooding (2014): $64K to the Town of Benton for repairs.
Is Benton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Benton’s rate for it is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Benton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Benton’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.