Johnson City Square Deal Arch · Photo: Doug Kerr from Upstate New York · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Union as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #564 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 495 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 Union’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Union 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 Union’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Union, and Union’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #564 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Union’s residents live in 17 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, Union has more expected damage per building than 74% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $15.3M a year in losses across Union: $12.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Union flood? Yes: 495 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Union, from FEMA’s records: 17.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee225 claims · $16.8M
- The Torrential rain34 claims · $907K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $327K
Union is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Broome County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Union
Disasters that paid out in Union itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Union), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$210K to the Town of Union for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$79K to the Town of Union for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$2.4M to the Town of Union for repairs225 flood claims paid for it, $16.8M
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$91K to the Town of Union for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$154K to the Town of Union for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$750K to the Town of Union for repairs
Show all 10
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$149K to the Town of Union for repairs34 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$24K to the Town of Union for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$18K to the Town of Union for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$62K to the Town of Union 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 Union after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Union archive →Union and its neighbors
Union is 5th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Vestal | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 434 |
| Endicott | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 80 |
| Binghamton | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 281 |
| Union | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 495 |
| Johnson City | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 194 |
| Chenango | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 90 |
| Owego | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 390 |
| Maine | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Endwell | — | 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 Union 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.
- Union residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Union
Is Union at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #564 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Union flood?
Flood insurance has paid 495 claims in Union since 1979, $23.1M in all, or 17.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 66 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (225).
Is Union 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 Union?
Union is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Union?
By FEMA money that reached Union, Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee (2011): $2.4M to the Town of Union for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 225 paid, $16.8M.
Is Union at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Union’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Union.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Union’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.