Remington Stables · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in German Flatts than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, German Flatts gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #717 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 2006.
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 German Flatts 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 German Flatts’ grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in German Flatts, and German Flatts’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #717 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
German Flatts’ residents live in 4 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, German Flatts has more expected damage per building than 95% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across German Flatts: $3.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does German Flatts flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in German Flatts, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
German Flatts isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Herkimer County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to German Flatts
Disasters that paid out in German Flatts itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of German Flatts), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$10K to the Town of German Flatts for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$477K to the Town of German Flatts for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$13K to the Town of German Flatts for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$43K to the Town of German Flatts for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$811K to the Town of German Flatts for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Snowstorms$24K to the Town of German Flatts for repairs
Show all 7
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$388K to the Town of German Flatts for repairs
Herkimer County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of German Flatts after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the German Flatts archive →German Flatts and its neighbors
German Flatts is 8th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Falls | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Frankfort | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Columbia | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Warren | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Herkimer | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Herkimer | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Mohawk | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| German Flatts | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Ilion | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 152 |
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 German Flatts 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 German Flatts
Is German Flatts at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, German Flatts has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #717 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does German Flatts flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in German Flatts since 2006, $90K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is German Flatts 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 Herkimer County, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in German Flatts?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for German Flatts’ 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 German Flatts?
By FEMA money that reached German Flatts, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): $811K to the Town of German Flatts for repairs.
Is German Flatts at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and German Flatts’ rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in German Flatts.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where German Flatts’ 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.