Photo: Don O'Brien from Piketon, Ohio, United States · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Vestal as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vestal gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #472 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 434 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 stands out about Vestal’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Vestal 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 Vestal’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Vestal, and Vestal’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
B #472 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Vestal’s residents live in 5 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, Vestal has more expected damage per building than 62% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.3M a year in losses across Vestal: $7.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Vestal flood? Yes: 434 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Vestal, from FEMA’s records: 42.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee251 claims · $19.8M
- The Torrential rain22 claims · $428K
Vestal 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Vestal
Disasters that paid out in Vestal itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Vestal), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby$195K to the Town of Vestal for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$386K to the Town of Vestal for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$109K to the Town of Vestal for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee1,240 households applied for aid$6.8M aid approved$2.7M to the Town of Vestal for repairs251 flood claims paid for it, $19.8M
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$244K to the Town of Vestal for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding206 households applied for aid$508K aid approved$873K to the Town of Vestal for repairs
Show all 11
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding315 households applied for aid$749K aid approved$383K to the Town of Vestal for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding49 households applied for aid$69K aid approved$96K to the Town of Vestal for repairs23 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan50 households applied for aid$39K aid approved$183K to the Town of Vestal for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$12K to the Town of Vestal for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$43K to the Town of Vestal 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 Vestal after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Vestal archive →Vestal and its neighbors
Vestal is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binghamton | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| 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 |
| Owego | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 390 |
| 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 Vestal 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 Vestal
Is Vestal at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vestal has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #472 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 Vestal flood?
Flood insurance has paid 434 claims in Vestal since 1978, $24.2M in all, or 42.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 71 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (251).
Is Vestal 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 Vestal?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Vestal’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 Vestal?
By FEMA money that reached Vestal, Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 1,240 households applied for aid, $6.8M approved, and $2.7M to the Town of Vestal for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 251 paid, $19.8M.
Is Vestal at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Vestal’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Vestal.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Vestal’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.