Dr. John Quincy Howe House · Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Phelps’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Phelps gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #167 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 4 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 Phelps 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 Phelps’ grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Phelps, and Phelps’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
A #167 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Phelps’ 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, Phelps has less expected damage per building than 78% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Phelps: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Phelps flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Phelps, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Phelps isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Ontario County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Phelps
Disasters that paid out in Phelps itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Phelps), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$5K to the Town of Phelps for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$7K to the Town of Phelps for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$46K to the Town of Phelps for repairs
- 1999Snow$17K to the Town of Phelps for repairs
Ontario 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 Phelps after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Phelps archive →Phelps and its neighbors
Phelps is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopewell | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Phelps | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Seneca | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Junius | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Geneva | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Lyons | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Phelps 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 Phelps
Is Phelps at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Phelps has lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #167 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Phelps flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Phelps since 1979, $9K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Phelps 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 Ontario County, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Phelps?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Phelps’ 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 Phelps?
By FEMA money that reached Phelps, Ice Storm (2003): $46K to the Town of Phelps for repairs.
Is Phelps at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Phelps’ rate for it is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Phelps.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Phelps’ 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.