Solvay Public Library · Photo: Crazyale · CC0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Geddes than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Geddes gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #181 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 2 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 Geddes 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 Geddes’ grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Geddes, and Geddes’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
A #181 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Geddes’ residents live in 5 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, Geddes has less expected damage per building than 76% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Geddes: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Geddes flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Geddes, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Geddes 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Geddes
Disasters that paid out in Geddes itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Geddes), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$25K to the Town of Geddes for repairs
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 Geddes after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Geddes archive →Geddes and its neighbors
Geddes is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solvay | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Salina | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Geddes | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Camillus | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Syracuse | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 93 |
| Lysander | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Van Buren | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Westvale | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Fairmount | — | 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 Geddes 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 Geddes
Is Geddes at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Geddes has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #181 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Geddes flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Geddes since 1979, $47K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Geddes 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 Geddes?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Geddes’ 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 Geddes?
By FEMA money that reached Geddes, Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds (2011): $25K to the Town of Geddes for repairs.
Is Geddes at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Geddes’ rate for it is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Geddes.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Geddes’ 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.