Trinity Church · Photo: Doug Kerr from Upstate New York · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Constantia’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Constantia gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #608 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1993.
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 Constantia 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 Constantia’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Constantia, and Constantia’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #608 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Constantia’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Constantia has more expected damage per building than 80% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Constantia: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Constantia flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Constantia, from FEMA’s records: 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Constantia isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Oswego County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Constantia
Disasters that paid out in Constantia itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Constantia), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$12K to the Town of Constantia for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Snow$8K to the Town of Constantia for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$11K to the Town of Constantia for repairs
Oswego County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter 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 Constantia after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Constantia archive →Constantia and its neighbors
Constantia is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amboy | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cicero | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 154 |
| West Monroe | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Constantia | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Sullivan | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 46 |
| Camden | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Vienna | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
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 Constantia 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 Constantia
Is Constantia at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Constantia has higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #608 of 758 in New York. 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 Constantia flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Constantia since 1993, $145K in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Constantia 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 Oswego County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Constantia?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Constantia’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 Constantia?
By FEMA money that reached Constantia, Record Snow and Near Record Snow (2007): $12K to the Town of Constantia for repairs.
Is Constantia at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Constantia’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Constantia.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Constantia’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.