Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Syracuse’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Syracuse gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #380 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 93 claims here since 1978.
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 Syracuse’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Syracuse 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 Syracuse’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Syracuse, and Syracuse’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #380 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Syracuse’s residents live in 56 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, Syracuse has more expected damage per building than 50% of New York towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Syracuse has lower expected damage per building than 80% (#80 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $28.9M, is the 358th largest of those 400.
Does Syracuse flood? Sometimes: 93 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Syracuse, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Fred3 claims · $11K
- Tropical Storm Henri2 claims · $8K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $1K
Syracuse is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Onondaga County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Syracuse
Disasters that paid out in Syracuse itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Syracuse), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred$838K to the City of Syracuse for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $11K
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$1.5M to the City of Syracuse for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2003Ice Storm112 households applied for aid$54K aid approved
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$76K to the City of Syracuse for repairs
Onondaga 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 Syracuse after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Syracuse archive →Syracuse and its neighbors
Syracuse is 7th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solvay | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Onondaga | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| East Syracuse | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Salina | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| DeWitt | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 48 |
| Geddes | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Syracuse | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 93 |
| Lyncourt | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Westvale | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Nedrow | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Galeville | — | 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 Syracuse 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.
- Syracuse residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Syracuse
Is Syracuse at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Syracuse has lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #380 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Syracuse flood?
Flood insurance has paid 93 claims in Syracuse since 1978, $423K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Fred (3).
Is Syracuse 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 Onondaga County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Syracuse?
Syracuse is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Syracuse?
By FEMA money that reached Syracuse, Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds (2011): $1.5M to the City of Syracuse for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Fred: 3 paid, $11K.
Is Syracuse at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Syracuse’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Syracuse.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Syracuse’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.