Photo: kenneth c zirkel · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Kirkland as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kirkland gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #489 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 153 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 stands out about Kirkland’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Kirkland 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 Kirkland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kirkland, and Kirkland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
B #489 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Kirkland’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, Kirkland has more expected damage per building than 64% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Kirkland: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kirkland flood? Yes: 153 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kirkland, from FEMA’s records: 38.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee17 claims · $207K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $2K
Kirkland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Oneida County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Kirkland
Disasters that paid out in Kirkland itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Kirkland), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$659K to the Town of Kirkland for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Town of Kirkland for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$635K to the Town of Kirkland for repairs43 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$42K to the Town of Kirkland for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $207K
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$27K to the Town of Kirkland for repairs
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$16K to the Town of Kirkland for repairs
Show all 11
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$14K to the Town of Kirkland for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Snow$24K to the Town of Kirkland for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$26K to the Town of Kirkland for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$44K to the Town of Kirkland for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$21K to the Town of Kirkland for repairs
Oneida County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe 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 Kirkland after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kirkland archive →Kirkland and its neighbors
Kirkland is 7th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Westmoreland | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| New Hartford | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Whitestown | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Marshall | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Augusta | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Kirkland | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 153 |
| Vernon | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
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 Kirkland 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 Kirkland
Is Kirkland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kirkland has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #489 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Kirkland flood?
Flood insurance has paid 153 claims in Kirkland since 1979, $1.5M in all, or 38.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 24 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (17).
Is Kirkland 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 Oneida County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Kirkland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kirkland’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 Kirkland?
By FEMA money that reached Kirkland, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $659K to the Town of Kirkland for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 17 paid, $207K.
Is Kirkland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Kirkland’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kirkland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kirkland’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.