On FEMA’s figures, Lee faces less hazard damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lee gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #371 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2003.
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 Lee 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 Lee’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lee, and Lee’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #371 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lee’s residents live in 2 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, Lee has less expected damage per building than 51% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Lee: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lee flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lee, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lee 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lee
Disasters that paid out in Lee itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lee), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred$1.5M to the Town of Lee for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Town of Lee for repairs
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$12K to the Town of Lee for repairs
- 2004Snow$11K to the Town of Lee for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$10K to the Town of Lee for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$29K to the Town of Lee 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 Lee after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lee archive →Lee and its neighbors
Lee is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Western | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Lee | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Annsville | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Ava | — | 633 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Lake Delta | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Lee 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 Lee
Is Lee at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lee has lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #371 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lee flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Lee since 2003, $34K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Lee 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 Lee?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lee’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 Lee?
By FEMA money that reached Lee, Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred (2021): $1.5M to the Town of Lee for repairs.
Is Lee at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Lee’s rate for it is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lee.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lee’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.