Gen. William A. Mills House · Photo: Pubdog · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Mount Morris as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Morris gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #559 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1989.
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 Mount Morris 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 Mount Morris’ grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mount Morris, and Mount Morris’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #559 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mount Morris’ 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, Mount Morris has more expected damage per building than 74% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Mount Morris: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mount Morris flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1989
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mount Morris, from FEMA’s records: 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Mount Morris isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Livingston County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mount Morris
Disasters that paid out in Mount Morris itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Mount Morris), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$240K to the Town of Mount Morris for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$18K to the Town of Mount Morris for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$10K to the Town of Mount Morris for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$1K to the Town of Mount Morris for repairs
- 1999Snow$7K to the Town of Mount Morris for repairs
Livingston County has had 14 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 Mount Morris after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mount Morris archive →Mount Morris and its neighbors
Mount Morris is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castile | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Leicester | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Groveland | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Mount Morris | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Mount Morris | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| West Sparta | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Nunda | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Portage | — | 961 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 Mount Morris 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 Mount Morris
Is Mount Morris at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Morris has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #559 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mount Morris flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Mount Morris since 1989, $101K in all, or 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Mount Morris 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 Livingston County, 0.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Mount Morris?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mount Morris’ 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 Mount Morris?
By FEMA money that reached Mount Morris, Severe Storms and Flooding (2014): $240K to the Town of Mount Morris for repairs.
Is Mount Morris at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Mount Morris’ rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mount Morris.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mount Morris’ 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.