Groton High School · Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Groton as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Groton gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #585 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 5 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 Groton 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 Groton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Groton, and Groton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #585 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Groton’s residents live in 3 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, Groton has more expected damage per building than 77% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Groton: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Groton flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Groton, from FEMA’s records: 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain2 claims · $14K
Groton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Tompkins County.The storms Groton remembers
None of the 14 disasters declared for Tompkins County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Groton itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20052 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19791 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19811 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Tompkins County has had 14 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 Groton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Groton archive →Groton and its neighbors
Groton is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Cortlandville | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Groton | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Dryden | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Summerhill | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Locke | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| McLean | — | 410 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 Groton 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 Groton
Is Groton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Groton has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #585 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Groton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Groton since 1979, $24K in all, or 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Torrential rain (2).
Is Groton 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 Tompkins County, 1.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Groton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Groton’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 Groton?
By flood claims, Torrential rain: 2 paid, $14K.
Is Groton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Groton’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Groton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Groton’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.