Storms, floods and disasters in Bovina
Bovina isn’t graded for hazard risk: Bovina has 683 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1984.
What Bovina 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.
Does Bovina flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bovina, from FEMA’s records.
- The “Halloween” storm1 claim · $18K
- The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $24K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $206K
Bovina isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Delaware County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bovina
Disasters that paid out in Bovina itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Bovina), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to the Town of Bovina for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$284K to the Town of Bovina for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$30K to the Town of Bovina for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $106K
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$19K to the Town of Bovina for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$40K to the Town of Bovina for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$177K to the Town of Bovina for repairs
Show all 11
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$29K to the Town of Bovina for repairs
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$22K to the Town of Bovina for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$5K to the Town of Bovina for repairs
- 2003Snow$4K to the Town of Bovina for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$10K to the Town of Bovina for repairs
Delaware County has had 30 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 Bovina after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bovina archive →Bovina and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stamford | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Andes | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Delhi | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Middletown | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Roxbury | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
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 Bovina 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 Bovina
Does Bovina flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Bovina since 1984, $358K in all. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (1).
Is Bovina 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 Delaware County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bovina?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bovina’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 Bovina?
By FEMA money that reached Bovina, Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee (2011): $284K to the Town of Bovina for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 1 paid, $18K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bovina.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bovina’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.