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Butler Hall, New Hartford, NYPhoto: photographer / publisher not specified · Public domain
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in New Hartford · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, New Hartford faces less hazard damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Hartford gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #282 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 33 claims here since 1999.

River and rain flooding 89%Earthquakes 3%Strong wind 3%

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

less than 80%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#282 of 758 in New York
Hazard risk
A−#282 of 758
in New York · lower than 80% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
89% of expected building damage
Flood claims
33
paid since 1999 · $1.9M
Flooded more than once
8
properties
Disasters paid out here
10
of 21 declared for Oneida County

What stands out about New Hartford’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 80% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Remembers 20177 flood claims were paid for 2017 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What New Hartford 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

89%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Strong wind Ice storms Hurricanes Tornadoes Winter storms Hail Lightning Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 8% of New Hartford’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind New Hartford’s grade

River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Hartford, and New Hartford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.

Where New Hartford sits
New Hartford
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #282 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).

New Hartford’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding89%Earthquakes3%Strong wind3%Everything else5%

The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, New Hartford has less expected damage per building than 63% of New York towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.8M a year in losses across New Hartford: $4.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. New Hartford covers 5 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does New Hartford flood? Sometimes: 33 flood claims since 1999

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Hartford, from FEMA’s records: 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1999: 1 claim2000: 1 claim2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 1 claim2005: 0 claims2006: 1 claim2007: 3 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 5 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 6 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 7 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 6 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 0 claims2023: 1 claim2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims201320172019
19992026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Irene3 claims · $274K
33
paid claims since 1999
$1.9M
paid to owners
8
homes flooded more than once
$59K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

New Hartford isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Oneida County.
Disasters

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to New Hartford

Disasters that paid out in New Hartford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of New Hartford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$4.2M to the Town of New Hartford for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$37K to the Town of New Hartford for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$307K to the Town of New Hartford for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$84K to the Town of New Hartford for repairs
  5. 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$152K to the Town of New Hartford for repairs
  6. 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$45K to the Town of New Hartford for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
  1. 2004Snow$50K to the Town of New Hartford for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  2. 2003Ice Storm$25K to the Town of New Hartford for repairs
  3. 2002Snowstorms$79K to the Town of New Hartford for repairs
  4. 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$190K to the Town of New Hartford for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in New HartfordOneida County only

Oneida County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.

Were you here?

Old photos of New Hartford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the New Hartford archive →
Next door

New Hartford and its neighbors

New Hartford is 4th of the 9 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Utica: hazard risk AParis: hazard risk A+Whitestown: hazard risk B+New Hartford: hazard risk BNew York Mills: hazard risk AKirkland: hazard risk BFrankfort: hazard risk BChadwicks: not gradedLitchfield: hazard risk B−UticaParisWhitestownNew HartfordNew York MillsKirklandFrankfortChadwicksLitchfieldNew Hartford
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
ParisA+less damage than 98%river and rain flooding2
UticaAless damage than 91%river and rain flooding44
New York MillsAless damage than 85%river and rain flooding33
New HartfordA−less damage than 80%river and rain flooding33
WhitestownB+less damage than 68%river and rain flooding14
New HartfordBless damage than 64%river and rain flooding—
FrankfortBless damage than 56%river and rain flooding4
KirklandBless damage than 55%river and rain flooding153
LitchfieldB−less damage than 50%river and rain flooding3
Chadwicks—791 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.

Be ready

Get ready for what New Hartford faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in New Hartford

Is New Hartford at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Hartford has lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #282 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does New Hartford flood?

Flood insurance has paid 33 claims in New Hartford since 1999, $1.9M in all, or 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (3).

Is New Hartford 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 Oneida County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in New Hartford?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Hartford’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 New Hartford?

By FEMA money that reached New Hartford, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $4.2M to the Town of New Hartford for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 3 paid, $274K.

Is New Hartford at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and New Hartford’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Hartford.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Hartford’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.