More hazard damage per building is expected in Conquest than in 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Conquest gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1983.
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 Conquest 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 Conquest’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Conquest, and Conquest’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
C− higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Conquest’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $650K a year in losses across Conquest: $576K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Conquest flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Conquest, from FEMA’s records: 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Conquest isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cayuga County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Conquest
Disasters that paid out in Conquest itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Conquest), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to the Town of Conquest for repairs
- 2004Snow$9K to the Town of Conquest for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$15K to the Town of Conquest for repairs
Cayuga 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 Conquest after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Conquest archive →Conquest and its neighbors
Conquest is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Victory | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Montezuma | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Cato | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Mentz | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Conquest | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
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 Conquest 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 Conquest
Is Conquest at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Conquest has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). 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 Conquest flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Conquest since 1983, $48K in all, or 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Conquest 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 Cayuga County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Conquest?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Conquest’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 Conquest?
By FEMA money that reached Conquest, Ice Storm (2003): $15K to the Town of Conquest for repairs.
Is Conquest at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Conquest’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Conquest.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Conquest’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.