On FEMA’s figures, Veteran 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, Veteran gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #506 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 2 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 Veteran 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 Veteran’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Veteran, and Veteran’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #506 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Veteran’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, Veteran has more expected damage per building than 67% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $760K a year in losses across Veteran: $605K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Veteran flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Veteran, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Veteran isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chemung County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Veteran
Disasters that paid out in Veteran itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Veteran), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$91K to the Town of Veteran for repairs
Chemung County has had 12 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 Veteran after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Veteran archive →Veteran and its neighbors
Veteran is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horseheads | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Catlin | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Veteran | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Catharine | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Montour | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Horseheads North | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Pine Valley | — | 721 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Cayuta | — | 528 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 Veteran 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 Veteran
Is Veteran at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Veteran has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #506 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). 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 Veteran flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Veteran since 1978, $5K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Veteran 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 Chemung County, 1.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Veteran?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Veteran’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 Veteran?
By FEMA money that reached Veteran, Severe Storms and Flooding (2018): $91K to the Town of Veteran for repairs.
Is Veteran at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Veteran’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Veteran.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Veteran’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.