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CHazard risk
Natural hazards in Sidney · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Sidney faces more hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sidney gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #667 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 31 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 94%Hurricanes 3%Tornadoes 2%

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

more than 73%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#667 of 758 in New York
Hazard risk
C#667 of 758
in New York · higher than 73% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
94% of expected building damage
Flood claims
31
paid since 1979 · $703K
Flooded more than once
9
properties
Disasters paid out here
11
of 30 declared for Delaware County
By hazard

What Sidney 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

94%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Hurricanes Tornadoes Earthquakes Strong wind Winter storms Ice storms Hail Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Sidney’s grade

River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sidney, and Sidney’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Sidney sits
Sidney
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C #667 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Sidney’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding94%Everything else6%

The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Sidney has more expected damage per building than 88% of New York towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.5M a year in losses across Sidney: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Sidney covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Sidney flood? Sometimes: 31 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sidney, from FEMA’s records: 10.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 3 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 2 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 1 claim2005: 0 claims2006: 12 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 12 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197920062011
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Tropical Storm Lee11 claims · $341K
31
paid claims since 1979
$703K
paid to owners
9
homes flooded more than once
$23K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Sidney isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Delaware County.
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sidney

Disasters that paid out in Sidney itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Sidney), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$18K to the Town of Sidney for repairs
  2. 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$8K to the Town of Sidney for repairs
  3. 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$31K to the Town of Sidney for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $341K
  4. 2011Hurricane Irene$10K to the Town of Sidney for repairs
  5. 2008Severe Winter Storm$48K to the Town of Sidney for repairs
  6. 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$78K to the Town of Sidney for repairs
Show all 11
  1. 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$1.9M to the Town of Sidney for repairs
  2. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to the Town of Sidney for repairs
  3. 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$9K to the Town of Sidney for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  4. 2003Snow$6K to the Town of Sidney for repairs
  5. 2002Snowstorms$23K to the Town of Sidney for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in SidneyDelaware County only

Delaware County has had 30 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Sidney after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Sidney archive →
Next door

Sidney and its neighbors

Sidney is 2nd of the 9 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Unadilla: hazard risk C−Otego: hazard risk DSidney: hazard risk C+Unadilla: hazard risk C−Masonville: hazard risk C−Franklin: hazard risk C−Bainbridge: hazard risk DWalton: hazard risk DUnadillaOtegoSidneyUnadillaMasonvilleFranklinBainbridgeWaltonSidney
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
SidneyC+more damage than 63%river and rain flooding331
SidneyCmore damage than 73%river and rain flooding31
MasonvilleC−more damage than 75%river and rain flooding1
UnadillaC−more damage than 80%river and rain flooding34
FranklinC−more damage than 80%river and rain flooding5
UnadillaC−more damage than 82%river and rain flooding128
BainbridgeDmore damage than 87%river and rain flooding35
WaltonDmore damage than 89%river and rain flooding23
OtegoDmore damage than 89%river and rain flooding8

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Sidney faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Sidney

Is Sidney at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sidney has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #667 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Sidney flood?

Flood insurance has paid 31 claims in Sidney since 1979, $703K in all, or 10.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (11).

Is Sidney 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 Delaware County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Sidney?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sidney’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 Sidney?

By FEMA money that reached Sidney, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): $1.9M to the Town of Sidney for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 11 paid, $341K.

Is Sidney at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Sidney’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sidney.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sidney’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.