Photo: Mitchazenia · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Montour Falls as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montour Falls gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1984.
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 Montour Falls 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 Montour Falls’ grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Montour Falls, and Montour Falls’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Montour Falls’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $657K a year in losses across Montour Falls: $567K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Montour Falls flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Montour Falls, from FEMA’s records: 13.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Montour Falls isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Schuyler County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Montour Falls
Disasters that paid out in Montour Falls itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Montour Falls), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes6 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
Schuyler County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, 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 Montour Falls after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Montour Falls archive →Get ready for what Montour Falls 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 Montour Falls
Is Montour Falls at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montour Falls has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Montour Falls flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Montour Falls since 1984, $359K in all, or 13.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Montour Falls 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 Schuyler County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Montour Falls?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Montour Falls’ 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 Montour Falls?
By FEMA money that reached Montour Falls, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2003): 6 households applied for aid, $8K approved.
Is Montour Falls at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Montour Falls’ rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Montour Falls.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Montour Falls’ 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.