Less hazard damage per building is expected in Volney than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Volney gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #253 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Volney 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 Volney’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Volney, and Volney’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #253 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Volney’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, Volney has less expected damage per building than 67% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Volney: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Volney flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Volney. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Volney isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Oswego County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Volney
Disasters that paid out in Volney itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Volney), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$7K to the Town of Volney for repairs
- 2004Snow$7K to the Town of Volney for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$26K to the Town of Volney for repairs
Oswego County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter 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 Volney after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Volney archive →Volney and its neighbors
Volney 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scriba | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Volney | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Fulton | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Palermo | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Granby | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Minetto | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Schroeppel | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
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 Volney 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 Volney
Is Volney at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Volney has lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #253 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Volney 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 Oswego County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Volney?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Volney’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 Volney?
By FEMA money that reached Volney, Ice Storm (2003): $26K to the Town of Volney for repairs.
Is Volney at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Volney’s rate for it is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Volney.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Volney’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.