Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Mooers than in 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mooers gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #658 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 4 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 Mooers 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
Earthquakes
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 Mooers’ grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mooers, and Mooers’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C #658 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Mooers’ 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, Mooers has more expected damage per building than 87% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across Mooers: $886K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mooers flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mooers, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Mooers isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clinton County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mooers
Disasters that paid out in Mooers itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Mooers), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$15K to the Town of Mooers for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene9 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$32K to the Town of Mooers for repairs
Clinton County has had 13 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 Mooers after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mooers archive →Mooers and its neighbors
Mooers is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Mooers 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Mooers
Is Mooers at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mooers has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #658 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and earthquakes (6%). 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 Mooers flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Mooers since 1984, $8K in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Mooers 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 Clinton County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mooers?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mooers’ 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 Mooers?
By FEMA money that reached Mooers, Hurricane Irene (2011): 9 households applied for aid, $4K approved, and $32K to the Town of Mooers for repairs.
Is Mooers at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Mooers’ rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mooers.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mooers’ 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.