United Presbyterian Church of Davenport · Photo: rossograph · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Davenport’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Davenport gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #708 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1979.
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 Davenport 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 Davenport’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Davenport, and Davenport’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #708 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Davenport’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, Davenport has more expected damage per building than 93% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Davenport: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Davenport flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Davenport, from FEMA’s records: 8.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee1 claim · $5K
Davenport isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Delaware County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Davenport
Disasters that paid out in Davenport itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Davenport), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Town of Davenport for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$41K to the Town of Davenport for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $5K
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$75K to the Town of Davenport for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$143K to the Town of Davenport for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding51 households applied for aid$70K aid approved$4.6M to the Town of Davenport for repairs
- 2003Snow$5K to the Town of Davenport for repairs
Show all 7
- 2002Snowstorms$10K to the Town of Davenport for repairs
Delaware County has had 30 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 Davenport after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Davenport archive →Davenport and its neighbors
Davenport 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harpersfield | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Oneonta | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Meredith | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Kortright | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Maryland | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Davenport | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
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 Davenport 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 Davenport
Is Davenport at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Davenport has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #708 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 Davenport flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Davenport since 1979, $120K in all, or 8.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (1).
Is Davenport 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 Delaware County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Davenport?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Davenport’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 Davenport?
By FEMA money that reached Davenport, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 51 households applied for aid, $70K approved, and $4.6M to the Town of Davenport for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 1 paid, $5K.
Is Davenport at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Davenport’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Davenport.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Davenport’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.