Black River Canal Warehouse · Photo: Agreen54 · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Boonville than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boonville gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #250 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 5 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 Boonville 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 Boonville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Boonville, and Boonville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #250 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Boonville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Boonville has less expected damage per building than 67% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Boonville: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Boonville flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Boonville, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Boonville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Oneida County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Boonville
Disasters that paid out in Boonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Boonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$21K to the Town of Boonville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$12K to the Town of Boonville for repairs
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$9K to the Town of Boonville for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$17K to the Town of Boonville for repairs
- 2004Snow$15K to the Town of Boonville for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$12K to the Town of Boonville for repairs
Show all 7
- 2002Snowstorms$18K to the Town of Boonville for repairs
Oneida County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, 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 Boonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Boonville archive →Boonville and its neighbors
Boonville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boonville | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Steuben | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Remsen | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Western | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Leyden | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Forestport | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lyonsdale | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Ava | — | 633 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 Boonville 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 Boonville
Is Boonville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boonville has lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #250 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Boonville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Boonville since 1978, $41K in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Boonville 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 Oneida County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Boonville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Boonville’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 Boonville?
By FEMA money that reached Boonville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $21K to the Town of Boonville for repairs.
Is Boonville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Boonville’s rate for it is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Boonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Boonville’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.