New York State Barge Canal · Photo: Bill Blevins · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Van Buren faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Van Buren gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #480 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1978.
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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Van Buren, and Van Buren’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B #480 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Van Buren’s residents live in 3 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, Van Buren has more expected damage per building than 63% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Van Buren: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Van Buren flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Van Buren, from FEMA’s records: 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy2 claims · $92K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $19K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $43K
Van Buren isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Onondaga County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Van Buren
Disasters that paid out in Van Buren itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Van Buren), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Ice Storm$24K to the Town of Van Buren for repairs
Onondaga County has had 13 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 Van Buren after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Van Buren archive →Van Buren and its neighbors
Van Buren is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geddes | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Camillus | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Elbridge | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Lysander | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Van Buren | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren
Is Van Buren at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Van Buren has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #480 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Van Buren flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Van Buren since 1978, $720K in all, or 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (2).
Is Van Buren 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 Onondaga County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Van Buren?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Van Buren’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 Van Buren?
By FEMA money that reached Van Buren, Ice Storm (2003): $24K to the Town of Van Buren for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 2 paid, $92K.
Is Van Buren at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Van Buren’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Van Buren.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Van Buren’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.