Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Guilford’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Guilford gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #716 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 17 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 Guilford 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 Guilford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Guilford, and Guilford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #716 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Guilford’s 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, Guilford has more expected damage per building than 94% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Guilford: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Guilford flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Guilford, from FEMA’s records: 11.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee7 claims · $69K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $8K
- Hurricane Debby1 claim · $25K
Guilford isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chenango County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Guilford
Disasters that paid out in Guilford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Guilford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby$20K to the Town of Guilford for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $25K
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Town of Guilford for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee19 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$174K to the Town of Guilford for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $69K
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$101K to the Town of Guilford for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding15 households applied for aid$23K aid approved$765K to the Town of Guilford for repairs
- 2003Snow$8K to the Town of Guilford for repairs
Show all 7
- 2002Snowstorms$14K to the Town of Guilford for repairs
Chenango County has had 24 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 Guilford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Guilford archive →Guilford and its neighbors
Guilford is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Norwich | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Unadilla | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Butternuts | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Guilford | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Bainbridge | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
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 Guilford 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 Guilford
Is Guilford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Guilford has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #716 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 Guilford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in Guilford since 1979, $216K in all, or 11.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (7).
Is Guilford 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 Chenango County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Guilford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Guilford’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 Guilford?
By FEMA money that reached Guilford, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 15 households applied for aid, $23K approved, and $765K to the Town of Guilford for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 7 paid, $69K.
Is Guilford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Guilford’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Guilford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Guilford’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.