Snells Bush Church and Cemetery · Photo: Liz Spraker · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Manheim’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Manheim gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #438 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 8 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 Manheim 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 Manheim’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Manheim, and Manheim’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
B #438 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Manheim’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, Manheim has more expected damage per building than 58% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $949K a year in losses across Manheim: $776K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Manheim flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Manheim, from FEMA’s records: 5.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Manheim 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Manheim
Disasters that paid out in Manheim itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Manheim), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$389K to the Town of Manheim for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$6K to the Town of Manheim for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to the Town of Manheim for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$211K to the Town of Manheim for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Snowstorms$4K to the Town of Manheim for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$16K to the Town of Manheim 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 Manheim after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Manheim archive →Manheim and its neighbors
Manheim has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manheim | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Salisbury | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Dolgeville | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 51 |
| Little Falls | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Fairfield | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Oppenheim | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | — |
| St. Johnsville | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Danube | — | 888 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Manheim 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 Manheim
Is Manheim at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Manheim has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #438 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 Manheim flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Manheim since 1979, $144K in all, or 5.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Manheim 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 Manheim?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Manheim’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 Manheim?
By FEMA money that reached Manheim, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $389K to the Town of Manheim for repairs.
Is Manheim at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Manheim’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Manheim.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Manheim’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.