Storms, floods and disasters in Candor
Candor isn’t graded for hazard risk: Candor has 984 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 1979.
What Candor 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 Candor flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Candor, from FEMA’s records.
- Tropical Storm Lee7 claims · $480K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $2K
Candor 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Candor
Disasters that paid out in Candor itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Candor), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee133 households applied for aid$691K aid approved$11K to the Village of Candor for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $480K
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$19K to the Village of Candor for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$3K to the Village of Candor 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 Candor after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Candor archive →Get ready for what Candor 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 Candor
Does Candor flood?
Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Candor since 1979, $483K in all. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (7).
Is Candor 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 Candor?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Candor’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 Candor?
By FEMA money that reached Candor, Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 133 households applied for aid, $691K approved, and $11K to the Village of Candor for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 7 paid, $480K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Candor.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Candor’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.