More hazard damage per building is expected in Milford than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milford gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #730 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 12 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 Milford 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 Milford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Milford, and Milford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #730 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Milford’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, Milford has more expected damage per building than 96% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Milford: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Milford flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Milford, from FEMA’s records: 9.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee2 claims · $26K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $5K
Milford isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Otsego County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Milford
Disasters that paid out in Milford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Milford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$34K to the Town of Milford for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $26K
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$51K to the Town of Milford for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$245K to the Town of Milford for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$11K to the Town of Milford for repairs
Otsego County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Milford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Milford archive →Milford and its neighbors
Milford is 5th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oneonta | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Hartwick | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Maryland | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Middlefield | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Milford | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Laurens | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 Milford 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 Milford
Is Milford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milford has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #730 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). 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 Milford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Milford since 1979, $119K in all, or 9.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (2).
Is Milford 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 Otsego County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Milford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Milford’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 Milford?
By FEMA money that reached Milford, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): $245K to the Town of Milford for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 2 paid, $26K.
Is Milford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Milford’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Milford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Milford’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.