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US Post Office-FultonUS Post Office-Fulton · Photo: Jimmy Emerson (jimmywayne) · CC BY-SA 2.0
B+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Fulton · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Fulton faces less hazard damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fulton gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #351 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 91%Ice storms 2%Earthquakes 2%

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

less than 72%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#351 of 758 in New York
Hazard risk
B+#351 of 758
in New York · lower than 72% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
91% of expected building damage
Flood claims
7
paid since 1978 · $19K
Disasters paid out here
3
of 15 declared for Oswego County

What stands out about Fulton’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 72% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Moved out of harm’s way2 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Fulton 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

91%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Ice storms Earthquakes Strong wind Tornadoes Hurricanes Winter storms Hail Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Fulton’s grade

River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fulton, and Fulton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Fulton sits
Fulton
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B+ #351 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Fulton’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding91%Everything else9%

The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Fulton has less expected damage per building than 54% of New York towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Fulton: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Fulton covers 4 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Fulton flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fulton, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 2 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 2 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 1 claim2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197819791992
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The December Storm - nor’easter2 claims · $11K
7
paid claims since 1978
$19K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$3K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Fulton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Oswego County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
2flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fulton

Disasters that paid out in Fulton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Fulton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$36K to the City of Fulton for repairs
  2. 2004Snow$35K to the City of Fulton for repairs
  3. 2003Ice Storm388 households applied for aid$180K aid approved$217K to the City of Fulton for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in FultonOswego County only

Oswego County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.

Were you here?

Old photos of Fulton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Fulton archive →
Next door

Fulton and its neighbors

Fulton is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Volney: hazard risk A−Granby: hazard risk B+VolneyGranbyFulton
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
VolneyA−less damage than 84%river and rain flooding—
FultonB+less damage than 72%river and rain flooding7
GranbyB+less damage than 72%river and rain flooding1

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Fulton faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Fulton

Is Fulton at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fulton has lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #351 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Fulton flood?

Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Fulton since 1978, $19K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from December Storm - Nor'easter (2).

Is Fulton 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 Oswego County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Fulton?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fulton’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 Fulton?

By FEMA money that reached Fulton, Ice Storm (2003): 388 households applied for aid, $180K approved, and $217K to the City of Fulton for repairs. By flood claims, December Storm - Nor'easter: 2 paid, $11K.

Is Fulton at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Fulton’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fulton.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fulton’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.