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Waverly, New YorkPhoto: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0
C+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Waverly · FEMA

FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Waverly as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Waverly gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #582 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 94%Tornadoes 2%Hurricanes 2%

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

more than 59%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#582 of 758 in New York
Hazard risk
C+#582 of 758
in New York · higher than 59% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
94% of expected building damage
Flood claims
12
paid since 1979 · $91K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
6
of 20 declared for Tioga County
By hazard

What Waverly 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

94%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Hurricanes Earthquakes Strong wind Ice storms Hail Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Waverly’s grade

River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Waverly, and Waverly’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Waverly sits
Waverly
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C+ #582 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Waverly’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding94%Everything else6%

The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Waverly has more expected damage per building than 77% of New York towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Waverly: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Waverly covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Waverly flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Waverly, from FEMA’s records: 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 4 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 1 claim1984: 1 claim1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 1 claim2005: 1 claim2006: 2 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 1 claim2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197919832006
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The Torrential rain1 claim · $38K
  • Tropical Storm Lee1 claim · $4K
12
paid claims since 1979
$91K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$8K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Waverly isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Tioga County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
12flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Waverly

Disasters that paid out in Waverly itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Waverly), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$11K to the Village of Waverly for repairs
  2. 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee82 households applied for aid$224K aid approved$566K to the Village of Waverly for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $4K
  3. 2006Severe Storms and Flooding25 households applied for aid$54K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding22 households applied for aid$93K aid approved$6K to the Village of Waverly for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  5. 2002Snowstorms$3K to the Village of Waverly for repairs
  6. 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$43K to the Village of Waverly for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in WaverlyTioga County only

Tioga County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.

Were you here?

Old photos of Waverly after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Waverly archive →
Next door

Waverly and its neighbors

Waverly is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Chemung: hazard risk B−Barton: hazard risk CChemungBartonWaverly
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
ChemungB−more damage than 53%river and rain flooding8
WaverlyC+more damage than 59%river and rain flooding12
BartonCmore damage than 72%river and rain flooding65

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Waverly faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Waverly

Is Waverly at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Waverly has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #582 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Waverly flood?

Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Waverly since 1979, $91K in all, or 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Torrential rain (1).

Is Waverly 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 Tioga County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.6% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Waverly?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Waverly’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 Waverly?

By FEMA money that reached Waverly, Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 82 households applied for aid, $224K approved, and $566K to the Village of Waverly for repairs. By flood claims, Torrential rain: 1 paid, $38K.

Is Waverly at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Waverly’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Waverly.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Waverly’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.