Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Whitestown’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Whitestown gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #390 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 2000.
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 Whitestown 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 Whitestown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Whitestown, and Whitestown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #390 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Whitestown’s residents live in 6 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, Whitestown has more expected damage per building than 51% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.7M a year in losses across Whitestown: $3.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Whitestown flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 2000
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Whitestown, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $708K
- Tropical Storm Lee1 claim · $30K
- The December nor’easter1 claim · $11K
Whitestown 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Whitestown
Disasters that paid out in Whitestown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Whitestown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$1.8M to the Town of Whitestown for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$26K to the Town of Whitestown for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$92K to the Town of Whitestown for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$69K to the Town of Whitestown for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $30K
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$55K to the Town of Whitestown for repairs
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$26K to the Town of Whitestown for repairs
Show all 11
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$15K to the Town of Whitestown for repairs
- 2004Snow$26K to the Town of Whitestown for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$19K to the Town of Whitestown for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$53K to the Town of Whitestown for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$65K to the Town of Whitestown for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
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 Whitestown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Whitestown archive →Whitestown and its neighbors
Whitestown is 7th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcy | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Floyd | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Utica | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Rome | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Westmoreland | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| New Hartford | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Whitestown | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Yorkville | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Kirkland | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 153 |
| Clark Mills | — | 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 Whitestown 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 Whitestown
Is Whitestown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Whitestown has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #390 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.
Does Whitestown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Whitestown since 2000, $1.9M in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Whitestown 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 Whitestown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Whitestown’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 Whitestown?
By FEMA money that reached Whitestown, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $1.8M to the Town of Whitestown for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $708K.
Is Whitestown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Whitestown’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Whitestown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Whitestown’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.