Halsey Valley Grand Army of the Republic Meeting Hall · Photo: Dmadeo · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Tioga than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tioga gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #623 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 110 claims here since 1979.
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 Tioga’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Tioga 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 Tioga’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tioga, and Tioga’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
C #623 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Tioga’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, Tioga has more expected damage per building than 82% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Tioga: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tioga flood? Yes: 110 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tioga, from FEMA’s records: 54.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee31 claims · $2.3M
- The Torrential rain13 claims · $199K
Tioga isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Tioga County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tioga
Disasters that paid out in Tioga itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Tioga), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$14K to the Town of Tioga for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$18K to the Town of Tioga for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$1.2M to the Town of Tioga for repairs31 flood claims paid for it, $2.3M
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$261K to the Town of Tioga for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$99K to the Town of Tioga for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Town of Tioga for repairs
Show all 10
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$12K to the Town of Tioga for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$30K to the Town of Tioga for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Snowstorms$20K to the Town of Tioga for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$66K to the Town of Tioga for repairs
Tioga County has had 20 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 Tioga after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tioga archive →Tioga and its neighbors
Tioga is 2nd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nichols | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 87 |
| Tioga | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 110 |
| Barton | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 65 |
| Owego | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 390 |
| Candor | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Owego | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 653 |
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 Tioga 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 Tioga
Is Tioga at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tioga has higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #623 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). 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 Tioga flood?
Flood insurance has paid 110 claims in Tioga since 1979, $3.5M in all, or 54.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 20 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (31).
Is Tioga 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 Tioga County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Tioga?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tioga’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 Tioga?
By FEMA money that reached Tioga, Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee (2011): $1.2M to the Town of Tioga for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 31 paid, $2.3M.
Is Tioga at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Tioga’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tioga.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tioga’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.