Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Verona 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, Verona gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #547 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1993.
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 Verona 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 Verona’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Verona, and Verona’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #547 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Verona’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, Verona has more expected damage per building than 72% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Verona: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Verona flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Verona, from FEMA’s records: 3.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee2 claims · $45K
Verona isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Oneida County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Verona
Disasters that paid out in Verona itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Verona), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$24K to the Town of Verona for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$166K to the Town of Verona for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $45K
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$20K to the Town of Verona for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$19K to the Town of Verona for repairs
- 2004Snow$16K to the Town of Verona for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm1 households applied for aid$587 aid approved$4K to the Town of Verona for repairs
Show all 7
- 2002Snowstorms$15K to the Town of Verona for repairs
Oneida County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, 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 Verona after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Verona archive →Verona and its neighbors
Verona is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Westmoreland | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Lenox | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Vernon | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Verona | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Oneida | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 119 |
| Vienna | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Durhamville | — | 749 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 Verona 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 Verona
Is Verona at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Verona has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #547 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). 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 Verona flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Verona since 1993, $97K in all, or 3.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (2).
Is Verona 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 Oneida County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Verona?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Verona’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 Verona?
By FEMA money that reached Verona, Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee (2011): $166K to the Town of Verona for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 2 paid, $45K.
Is Verona at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Verona’s rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Verona.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Verona’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.