Newwark Valley Municipal Building and Tappan-Spaulding Memorial Library · Photo: Doug Kerr from Upstate New York · CC BY-SA 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Newark Valley than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Newark Valley gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #706 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 19 claims here since 1979.
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 Newark Valley 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 Newark Valley’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Newark Valley, and Newark Valley’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #706 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Newark Valley’s 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, Newark Valley has more expected damage per building than 93% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Newark Valley: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Newark Valley flood? Sometimes: 19 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Newark Valley, from FEMA’s records: 12.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee7 claims · $155K
- The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $10K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $5K
Newark Valley isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Tioga County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Newark Valley
Disasters that paid out in Newark Valley itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Newark Valley), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred$31K to the Town of Newark Valley for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$190K to the Town of Newark Valley for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$343K to the Town of Newark Valley for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to the Town of Newark Valley for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$457K to the Town of Newark Valley for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $155K
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$216K to the Town of Newark Valley for repairs
Show all 12
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$246K to the Town of Newark Valley for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$106K to the Town of Newark Valley for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$83K to the Town of Newark Valley for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$113K to the Town of Newark Valley for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$23K to the Town of Newark Valley for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$232K to the Town of Newark Valley for repairs
Tioga County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Newark Valley after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Newark Valley archive →Newark Valley and its neighbors
Newark Valley is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Owego | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 390 |
| Maine | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Newark Valley | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Candor | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Nanticoke | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
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 Newark Valley 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 Newark Valley
Is Newark Valley at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Newark Valley has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #706 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). 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 Newark Valley flood?
Flood insurance has paid 19 claims in Newark Valley since 1979, $304K in all, or 12.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (7).
Is Newark Valley 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 Tioga County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Newark Valley?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Newark Valley’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 Newark Valley?
By FEMA money that reached Newark Valley, Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee (2011): $457K to the Town of Newark Valley for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 7 paid, $155K.
Is Newark Valley at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Newark Valley’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Newark Valley.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Newark Valley’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.