Photo: Doug Kerr from Upstate New York · CC BY-SA 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Oxford than in 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oxford gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #691 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 9 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 Oxford 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 Oxford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oxford, and Oxford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #691 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oxford’s residents live in 5 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, Oxford has more expected damage per building than 91% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Oxford: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oxford flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oxford, from FEMA’s records: 5.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee2 claims · $20K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $8K
Oxford isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chenango County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Oxford
Disasters that paid out in Oxford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Oxford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby$617K to the Town of Oxford for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$597K to the Town of Oxford for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $20K
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$48K to the Town of Oxford for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding$61K to the Town of Oxford for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$276K to the Town of Oxford for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$521K to the Town of Oxford for repairs
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$7K to the Town of Oxford for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$22K to the Town of Oxford for repairs
Chenango County has had 24 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 Oxford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oxford archive →Oxford and its neighbors
Oxford is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smithville | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Greene | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Oxford | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Norwich | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Guilford | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Coventry | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Preston | — | 856 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 Oxford 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 Oxford
Is Oxford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oxford has higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #691 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 Oxford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Oxford since 1979, $78K in all, or 5.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (2).
Is Oxford 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 Chenango County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Oxford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Oxford’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 Oxford?
By FEMA money that reached Oxford, Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby (2024): $617K to the Town of Oxford for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 2 paid, $20K.
Is Oxford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Oxford’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oxford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oxford’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.