FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Kirkwood as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kirkwood gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #560 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 198 claims here since 1978.
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 Kirkwood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kirkwood, and Kirkwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #560 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Kirkwood’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, Kirkwood has more expected damage per building than 74% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Kirkwood: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kirkwood flood? Yes: 198 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kirkwood, from FEMA’s records: 80.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee50 claims · $3.4M
- The Torrential rain12 claims · $158K
Kirkwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Broome County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Kirkwood
Disasters that paid out in Kirkwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Kirkwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$988K to the Town of Kirkwood for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$44K to the Town of Kirkwood for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$17K to the Town of Kirkwood for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee189 households applied for aid$690K aid approved$657K to the Town of Kirkwood for repairs50 flood claims paid for it, $3.4M
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$56K to the Town of Kirkwood for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$367K to the Town of Kirkwood for repairs
Show all 11
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding337 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$927K to the Town of Kirkwood for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding20 households applied for aid$31K aid approved$45K to the Town of Kirkwood for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan57 households applied for aid$121K aid approved$152K to the Town of Kirkwood for repairs20 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$19K to the Town of Kirkwood for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Snowstorms$29K to the Town of Kirkwood for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Broome County has had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, 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 Kirkwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kirkwood archive →Kirkwood and its neighbors
Kirkwood is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Binghamton | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 281 |
| Kirkwood | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 198 |
| Fenton | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Windsor | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Conklin | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 704 |
| Colesville | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
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 Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood
Is Kirkwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kirkwood has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #560 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.
Does Kirkwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 198 claims in Kirkwood since 1978, $8.3M in all, or 80.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 26 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (50).
Is Kirkwood 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 Broome County, 1.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Kirkwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kirkwood’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 Kirkwood?
By FEMA money that reached Kirkwood, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 337 households applied for aid, $1.5M approved, and $927K to the Town of Kirkwood for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 50 paid, $3.4M.
Is Kirkwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Kirkwood’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kirkwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kirkwood’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.