Loomis Family Farm · Photo: Slanles · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Smithville faces more hazard damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Smithville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Smithville 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 Smithville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Smithville, and Smithville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Smithville’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $562K a year in losses across Smithville: $488K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Smithville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Smithville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Smithville 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.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Smithville
Disasters that paid out in Smithville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Smithville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$303K to the Town of Smithville for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$30K to the Town of Smithville for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Town of Smithville for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$75K to the Town of Smithville for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$129K to the Town of Smithville for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding$76K to the Town of Smithville for repairs
Show all 13
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$112K to the Town of Smithville for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$122K to the Town of Smithville for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$40K to the Town of Smithville for repairs
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$13K to the Town of Smithville for repairs
- 2003Snow$3K to the Town of Smithville for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$7K to the Town of Smithville for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$21K to the Town of Smithville 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 Smithville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Smithville archive →Smithville and its neighbors
Smithville is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triangle | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Smithville | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Greene | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Oxford | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| McDonough | — | 946 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Willet | — | 768 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| German | — | 274 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 Smithville 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 Smithville
Is Smithville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Smithville has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. 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.
Is Smithville 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 Smithville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Smithville’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 Smithville?
By FEMA money that reached Smithville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $303K to the Town of Smithville for repairs.
Is Smithville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Smithville’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Smithville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Smithville’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.