FEMA puts Minetto’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Minetto gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2007.
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 Minetto 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 Minetto’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Minetto, and Minetto’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Minetto’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $343K a year in losses across Minetto: $301K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Minetto flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2007
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Minetto, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Minetto isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Oswego County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Minetto
Disasters that paid out in Minetto itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Minetto), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$30K to the Town of Minetto for repairs
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$4K to the Town of Minetto for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Snow$5K to the Town of Minetto for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm14 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$32K to the Town of Minetto for repairs
Oswego County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, 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 Minetto after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Minetto archive →Minetto and its neighbors
Minetto is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oswego | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Scriba | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Oswego | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Volney | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Minetto | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Minetto 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 Minetto
Is Minetto at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Minetto has lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). 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 Minetto flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Minetto since 2007, $2K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Minetto 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 Oswego County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Minetto?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Minetto’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 Minetto?
By FEMA money that reached Minetto, Ice Storm (2003): 14 households applied for aid, $5K approved, and $32K to the Town of Minetto for repairs.
Is Minetto at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Minetto’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Minetto.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Minetto’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.