Photo: Phmalo · CC BY-SA 2.5FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Scott as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Scott gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1993.
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 Scott 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 Scott’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Scott, and Scott’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Scott’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $324K a year in losses across Scott: $278K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Scott flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Scott, from FEMA’s records: 7.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Scott isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cortland County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Scott
Disasters that paid out in Scott itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Scott), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred$1.2M to the Town of Scott for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$4K to the Town of Scott for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$43K to the Town of Scott for repairs
Cortland County has had 13 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 Scott after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Scott archive →Scott and its neighbors
Scott is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spafford | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Preble | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Scott | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Homer | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Sempronius | — | 789 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 Scott 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 Scott
Is Scott at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Scott has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). 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 Scott flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Scott since 1993, $17K in all, or 7.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Scott 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 Cortland County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Scott?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Scott’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 Scott?
By FEMA money that reached Scott, Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred (2021): $1.2M to the Town of Scott for repairs.
Is Scott at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Scott’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Scott.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Scott’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.