Saint Mark's Church · Photo: Gilbert Ask · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in DeWitt than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, DeWitt gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #171 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 48 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 DeWitt’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What DeWitt 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
Earthquakes
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 DeWitt’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in DeWitt, and DeWitt’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 5% (lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts).
A #171 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
DeWitt’s residents live in 7 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, DeWitt has less expected damage per building than 78% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.5M a year in losses across DeWitt: $6.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does DeWitt flood? Sometimes: 48 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in DeWitt, from FEMA’s records: 4.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain3 claims · $130K
- Tropical Storm Fred1 claim · $90K
DeWitt 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.The storms DeWitt remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Onondaga County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching DeWitt itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20158 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20056 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20064 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
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 DeWitt after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the DeWitt archive →DeWitt and its neighbors
DeWitt is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Syracuse | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Salina | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| DeWitt | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 48 |
| LaFayette | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Syracuse | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 93 |
| Manlius | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Lyncourt | — | 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 DeWitt 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 DeWitt
Is DeWitt at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, DeWitt has lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #171 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does DeWitt flood?
Flood insurance has paid 48 claims in DeWitt since 1978, $2.4M in all, or 4.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Torrential rain (3).
Is DeWitt 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 DeWitt?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for DeWitt’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 DeWitt?
By flood claims, Torrential rain: 3 paid, $130K.
Is DeWitt at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and DeWitt’s rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in DeWitt.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where DeWitt’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.