More hazard damage per building is expected in Fleming than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fleming gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 6 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 Fleming 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 Fleming’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fleming, and Fleming’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Fleming’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $977K a year in losses across Fleming: $855K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fleming flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fleming, 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.
Fleming 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Fleming
Disasters that paid out in Fleming itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Fleming), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Snow$5K to the Town of Fleming 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 Fleming after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fleming archive →Fleming and its neighbors
Fleming is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scipio | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Aurelius | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Springport | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Auburn | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Fleming | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Owasco | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Melrose Park | — | 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 Fleming 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 Fleming
Is Fleming at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fleming has higher expected damage per building than 68% 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 Fleming flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Fleming since 1979, $27K in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Fleming 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 Fleming?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fleming’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 Fleming?
By FEMA money that reached Fleming, Snow (2004): $5K to the Town of Fleming for repairs.
Is Fleming at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Fleming’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fleming.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fleming’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.