Photo: Jayu from Harrisburg, PA, U.S.A. · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Madison faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Madison gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #507 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2008.
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 Madison 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 Madison’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Madison, and Madison’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #507 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Madison’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, Madison has more expected damage per building than 67% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $929K a year in losses across Madison: $810K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Madison flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2008
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Madison, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Madison isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Madison County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Madison
Disasters that paid out in Madison itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Madison), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$643K to the Town of Madison for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Town of Madison for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$184K to the Town of Madison for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$216K to the Town of Madison for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$85K to the Town of Madison for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$22K to the Town of Madison for repairs
Show all 9
- 2003Ice Storm$10K to the Town of Madison for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$6K to the Town of Madison for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$25K to the Town of Madison for repairs
Madison 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 Madison after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Madison archive →Madison and its neighbors
Madison is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sangerfield | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Augusta | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Eaton | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Madison | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hamilton | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hamilton | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Brookfield | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
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 Madison 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 Madison
Is Madison at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Madison has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #507 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 Madison flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Madison since 2008, $18K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Madison 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 Madison County, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Madison?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Madison’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 Madison?
By FEMA money that reached Madison, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $643K to the Town of Madison for repairs.
Is Madison at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Madison’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Madison.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Madison’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.