Photo: Joegrimes at English Wikipedia · Public domainFEMA puts Clay’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clay gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #273 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 53 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 stands out about Clay’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Clay 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 Clay’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clay, and Clay’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #273 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Clay’s residents live in 15 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, Clay has less expected damage per building than 64% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.8M a year in losses across Clay: $9.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clay flood? Sometimes: 53 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clay, from FEMA’s records: 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Clay 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.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Clay
Disasters that paid out in Clay itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Clay), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Ice Storm31 households applied for aid$21K aid approved$130K to the Town of Clay for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$16K to the Town of Clay for repairs
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 Clay after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Clay archive →Clay and its neighbors
Clay is 2nd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salina | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Clay | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Cicero | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 154 |
| Lysander | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Hastings | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Schroeppel | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Sand Ridge | — | 838 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Radisson | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Brewerton | — | 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 Clay 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 Clay
Is Clay at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clay has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #273 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 Clay flood?
Flood insurance has paid 53 claims in Clay since 1978, $566K in all, or 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Clay 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 Clay?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clay’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 Clay?
By FEMA money that reached Clay, Ice Storm (2003): 31 households applied for aid, $21K approved, and $130K to the Town of Clay for repairs.
Is Clay at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Clay’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clay.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clay’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.