Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Owego than in 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Owego gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #688 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 390 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 stands out about Owego’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Owego 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 Owego’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Owego, and Owego’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #688 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Owego’s residents live in 4 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, Owego has more expected damage per building than 91% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.2M a year in losses across Owego: $7.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Owego flood? Yes: 390 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Owego, from FEMA’s records: 47.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee166 claims · $15.8M
- The Torrential rain40 claims · $912K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $45K
Owego 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Owego
Disasters that paid out in Owego itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Owego), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$688K to the Town of Owego for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$1.7M to the Town of Owego for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$38K to the Town of Owego for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$5.3M to the Town of Owego for repairs166 flood claims paid for it, $15.8M
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$667K to the Town of Owego for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$261K to the Town of Owego for repairs
Show all 11
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$1.2M to the Town of Owego for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$42K to the Town of Owego for repairs40 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$71K to the Town of Owego for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Snowstorms$45K to the Town of Owego for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$40K to the Town of Owego for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
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 Owego after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Owego archive →Owego and its neighbors
Owego is 6th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vestal | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 434 |
| Union | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 495 |
| Warren Township | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Tioga | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 110 |
| Nichols | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 87 |
| 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 |
| Owego | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 653 |
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 Owego 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 Owego
Is Owego at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Owego has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #688 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Owego flood?
Flood insurance has paid 390 claims in Owego since 1979, $23.1M in all, or 47.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 77 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (166).
Is Owego 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 Owego?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Owego’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 Owego?
By FEMA money that reached Owego, Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee (2011): $5.3M to the Town of Owego for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 166 paid, $15.8M.
Is Owego at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Owego’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Owego.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Owego’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.