Grace Episcopal Church · Photo: Doug Kerr from Upstate New York · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Triangle as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Triangle gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #477 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 3 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 Triangle 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 Triangle’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Triangle, and Triangle’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
B #477 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Triangle’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, Triangle has more expected damage per building than 63% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $796K a year in losses across Triangle: $647K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Triangle flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Triangle, from FEMA’s records: 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $63K
Triangle isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Broome County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Triangle
Disasters that paid out in Triangle itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Triangle), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to the Town of Triangle for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$60K to the Town of Triangle for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$30K to the Town of Triangle for repairs
- 2003Snow$3K to the Town of Triangle for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$13K to the Town of Triangle for repairs
Broome County has had 23 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 Triangle after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Triangle archive →Triangle and its neighbors
Triangle has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triangle | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Barker | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Smithville | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Greene | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Lisle | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Willet | — | 768 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 Triangle 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 Triangle
Is Triangle at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Triangle has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #477 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 Triangle flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Triangle since 1979, $88K in all, or 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Triangle 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 Broome County, 1.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Triangle?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Triangle’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 Triangle?
By FEMA money that reached Triangle, Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds (2011): $60K to the Town of Triangle for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $63K.
Is Triangle at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Triangle’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Triangle.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Triangle’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.