Photo: Tyler A. McNeil · CC BY 3.0FEMA puts Unadilla’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Unadilla gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #709 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 34 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 Unadilla 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 Unadilla’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Unadilla, and Unadilla’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #709 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Unadilla’s residents live in 2 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, Unadilla has more expected damage per building than 94% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Unadilla: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Unadilla flood? Sometimes: 34 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Unadilla, from FEMA’s records: 16.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee15 claims · $468K
- The Late summer storms1 claim · $5K
Unadilla isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Otsego County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Unadilla
Disasters that paid out in Unadilla itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Unadilla), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$18K to the Town of Unadilla for repairs
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$292K to the Town of Unadilla for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$988K to the Town of Unadilla for repairs15 flood claims paid for it, $468K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$19K to the Town of Unadilla for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$148K to the Town of Unadilla for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Snowstorms$6K to the Town of Unadilla for repairs
Otsego County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Unadilla after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Unadilla archive →Unadilla and its neighbors
Unadilla is 3rd of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 331 |
| Sidney | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Unadilla | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Butternuts | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Unadilla | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 128 |
| Guilford | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Bainbridge | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Otego | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Unadilla 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 Unadilla
Is Unadilla at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Unadilla has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #709 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Unadilla flood?
Flood insurance has paid 34 claims in Unadilla since 1979, $1.0M in all, or 16.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (15).
Is Unadilla 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 Otsego County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Unadilla?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Unadilla’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 Unadilla?
By FEMA money that reached Unadilla, Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee (2011): $988K to the Town of Unadilla for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 15 paid, $468K.
Is Unadilla at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Unadilla’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Unadilla.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Unadilla’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.