Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Sterling as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sterling gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #495 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2019.
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 Sterling 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 Sterling’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sterling, and Sterling’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #495 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Sterling’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Sterling has more expected damage per building than 65% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $887K a year in losses across Sterling: $783K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sterling flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2019
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sterling, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Sterling isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cayuga County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sterling
Disasters that paid out in Sterling itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Sterling), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$54K to the Town of Sterling for repairs
- 2004Snow$10K to the Town of Sterling for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm75 households applied for aid$53K aid approved$80K to the Town of Sterling for repairs
Cayuga County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, 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 Sterling after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sterling archive →Sterling and its neighbors
Sterling is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oswego | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wolcott | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Victory | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hannibal | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Sterling | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Fair Haven | — | not graded yet | |
| Red Creek | — | 699 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 Sterling 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 Sterling
Is Sterling at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sterling has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #495 of 758 in New York. 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 Sterling flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Sterling since 2019, $34K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Sterling 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 Cayuga County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sterling?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sterling’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 Sterling?
By FEMA money that reached Sterling, Ice Storm (2003): 75 households applied for aid, $53K approved, and $80K to the Town of Sterling for repairs.
Is Sterling at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Sterling’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sterling.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sterling’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.