Fort Stanwix National Monument · Photo: M Colangelo Sr · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Rome’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rome gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #224 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 20 claims here since 1980.
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 Rome’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rome 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
Earthquakes
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 Rome’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rome, and Rome’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts).
A #224 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rome’s residents live in 12 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, Rome has less expected damage per building than 71% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.4M a year in losses across Rome: $4.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rome flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rome, 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.
- Tropical Storm Fred2 claims · $656K
Rome 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rome
Disasters that paid out in Rome itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rome), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred$4.8M to the City of Rome for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $656K
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$75K to the City of Rome for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$310K to the City of Rome for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee13 households applied for aid$17K aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$31K to the City of Rome for repairs
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$71K to the City of Rome for repairs
Show all 10
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding22 households applied for aid$21K aid approved$439K to the City of Rome for repairs
- 2004Snow$41K to the City of Rome for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Ice Storm7 households applied for aid$360 aid approved$20K to the City of Rome for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$57K to the City of Rome for repairs
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.
Old photos of Rome after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rome archive →Rome and its neighbors
Rome is 2nd of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floyd | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Rome | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Westmoreland | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Western | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Lee | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Whitestown | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Verona | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Annsville | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Vienna | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Lake Delta | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Rome 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Rome
Is Rome at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rome has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #224 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rome flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Rome since 1980, $701K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Fred (2).
Is Rome 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 Rome?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rome’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 Rome?
By FEMA money that reached Rome, Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred (2021): $4.8M to the City of Rome for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Fred: 2 paid, $656K.
Is Rome at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Rome’s rate for it is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rome.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rome’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.