Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct · Photo: Lvklock · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Camillus’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Camillus gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #227 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1981.
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 Camillus 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 Camillus’ grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Camillus, and Camillus’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
A #227 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Camillus’ residents live in 8 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, Camillus has less expected damage per building than 70% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.5M a year in losses across Camillus: $3.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Camillus flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Camillus, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Fred1 claim · $4K
Camillus isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Onondaga County.The storms Camillus remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Onondaga County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Camillus itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19811 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20211 flood claims paidThe year of Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred, declared for Onondaga County
- 20221 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Onondaga County has had 13 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 Camillus after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Camillus archive →Camillus and its neighbors
Camillus 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solvay | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Onondaga | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Marcellus | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Geddes | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Camillus | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Elbridge | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Van Buren | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Fairmount | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Westvale | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Camillus 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 Camillus
Is Camillus at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Camillus has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #227 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Camillus flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Camillus since 1981, $17K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Fred (1).
Is Camillus 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 Onondaga County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Camillus?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Camillus’ 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 Camillus?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Fred: 1 paid, $4K.
Is Camillus at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Camillus’ rate for it is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Camillus.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Camillus’ 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.