FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Deerfield than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Deerfield gets an A+ for hazard risk: among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #20 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1980.
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 Deerfield 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 Deerfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Deerfield, and Deerfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #20 of 758 in New York; among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
Deerfield’s residents live in 2 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, Deerfield has less expected damage per building than 97% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $590K a year in losses across Deerfield: $392K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Deerfield flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Deerfield, from FEMA’s records: 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Deerfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Oneida County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Deerfield
Disasters that paid out in Deerfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Deerfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$40K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee1 households applied for aid$626 aid approved$76K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$265K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$11K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$20K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2004Snow$8K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm1 households applied for aid$6K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$10K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$106K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
Oneida County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, 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 Deerfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Deerfield archive →Deerfield and its neighbors
Deerfield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcy | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Deerfield | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Schuyler | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Utica | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Trenton | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Russia | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
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 Deerfield 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 Deerfield
Is Deerfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Deerfield has among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #20 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Deerfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Deerfield since 1980, $168K in all, or 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Deerfield 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 Oneida County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Deerfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Deerfield’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 Deerfield?
By FEMA money that reached Deerfield, Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds (2011): $265K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs.
Is Deerfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Deerfield’s rate for it is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Deerfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Deerfield’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.