Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Herkimer faces more hazard damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Herkimer gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #599 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). 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 Herkimer 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 Herkimer’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Herkimer, and Herkimer’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #599 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Herkimer’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, Herkimer has more expected damage per building than 79% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Herkimer: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Herkimer flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Herkimer, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Herkimer 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Herkimer
Disasters that paid out in Herkimer itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Herkimer), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$65K to the Town of Herkimer for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$16K to the Town of Herkimer for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$323K to the Town of Herkimer for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$18K to the Town of Herkimer for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$722K to the Town of Herkimer for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$132K to the Town of Herkimer for repairs
Show all 9
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$139K to the Town of Herkimer for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$26K to the Town of Herkimer for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$309K to the Town of Herkimer 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 Herkimer after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Herkimer archive →Herkimer and its neighbors
Herkimer is 6th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schuyler | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Little Falls | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Frankfort | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Fairfield | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Newport | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| 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 Herkimer 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 Herkimer
Is Herkimer at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Herkimer has higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #599 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Herkimer flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Herkimer since 1979, $28K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Herkimer 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 Herkimer?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Herkimer’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 Herkimer?
By FEMA money that reached Herkimer, Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds (2011): $722K to the Town of Herkimer for repairs.
Is Herkimer at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Herkimer’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Herkimer.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Herkimer’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.