FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Hannibal as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hannibal gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #469 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Hannibal 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 Hannibal’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hannibal, and Hannibal’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
B #469 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Hannibal’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Hannibal has more expected damage per building than 62% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $907K a year in losses across Hannibal: $790K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hannibal flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Hannibal. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Hannibal 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hannibal
Disasters that paid out in Hannibal itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hannibal), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$11K to the Town of Hannibal for repairs
- 2004Snow$4K to the Town of Hannibal for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$32K to the Town of Hannibal for repairs
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.
Old photos of Hannibal after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hannibal archive →Hannibal and its neighbors
Hannibal is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oswego | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Ira | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Granby | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hannibal | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Sterling | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Hannibal 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 Hannibal
Is Hannibal at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hannibal has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #469 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Hannibal 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 Hannibal?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hannibal’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 Hannibal?
By FEMA money that reached Hannibal, Ice Storm (2003): $32K to the Town of Hannibal for repairs.
Is Hannibal at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Hannibal’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hannibal.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hannibal’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.