Otter Lake Community Church · Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Forestport as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forestport gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Forestport 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 Forestport’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Forestport, and Forestport’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
B− higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Forestport’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $800K a year in losses across Forestport: $730K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Forestport flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Forestport. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Forestport 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Forestport
Disasters that paid out in Forestport itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Forestport), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$10K to the Town of Forestport for repairs
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$13K to the Town of Forestport for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$219 aid approved$12K to the Town of Forestport for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$12K to the Town of Forestport 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 Forestport after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Forestport archive →Forestport and its neighbors
Forestport is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boonville | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Remsen | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Webb | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Forestport | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Lyonsdale | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Ohio | — | 980 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Forestport 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 Forestport
Is Forestport at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forestport has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− 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.
Is Forestport 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 Forestport?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Forestport’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 Forestport?
By FEMA money that reached Forestport, Record Snow and Near Record Snow (2007): $13K to the Town of Forestport for repairs.
Is Forestport at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Forestport’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Forestport.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Forestport’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.