Common School 32 · Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Tompkins faces more hazard damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tompkins gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1981.
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 Tompkins 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 Tompkins’ grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tompkins, and Tompkins’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C− higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tompkins’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $876K a year in losses across Tompkins: $777K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tompkins flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tompkins, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee1 claim · $19K
Tompkins 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.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tompkins
Disasters that paid out in Tompkins itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Tompkins), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby$53K to the Town of Tompkins for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$19K to the Town of Tompkins for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$25K to the Town of Tompkins for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$42K to the Town of Tompkins for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $19K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$15K to the Town of Tompkins for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$60K to the Town of Tompkins for repairs
Show all 14
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$75K to the Town of Tompkins for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$392K to the Town of Tompkins for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$2.8M to the Town of Tompkins for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$208K to the Town of Tompkins for repairs
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$157K to the Town of Tompkins for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$6K to the Town of Tompkins for repairs
- 2003Snow$11K to the Town of Tompkins for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$18K to the Town of Tompkins for repairs
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.
Old photos of Tompkins after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tompkins archive →Tompkins and its neighbors
Tompkins 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masonville | C−more damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Tompkins | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Walton | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Hancock | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 100 |
| Deposit | — | not graded yet | |
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 Tompkins 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 Tompkins
Is Tompkins at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tompkins has higher expected damage per building than 84% 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.
Does Tompkins flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Tompkins since 1981, $49K in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (1).
Is Tompkins 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 Tompkins?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tompkins’ 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 Tompkins?
By FEMA money that reached Tompkins, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 1 households applied for aid, $5K approved, and $2.8M to the Town of Tompkins for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 1 paid, $19K.
Is Tompkins at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Tompkins’ rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tompkins.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tompkins’ 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.