Windsor Village Historic District · Photo: Doug Kerr from Upstate New York · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Windsor than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Windsor gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #722 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 43 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 Windsor 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 Windsor’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Windsor, and Windsor’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #722 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Windsor’s residents live in 2 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, Windsor has more expected damage per building than 95% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Windsor: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Windsor flood? Sometimes: 43 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Windsor, from FEMA’s records: 14.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee14 claims · $780K
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $25K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $27K
Windsor 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Windsor
Disasters that paid out in Windsor itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Windsor), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$310K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$33K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$373K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$45K to the Town of Windsor for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $780K
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$4.6M to the Town of Windsor for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$304K to the Town of Windsor for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$60K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$326K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
- 2003Snow$15K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$44K to the Town of Windsor 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 Windsor after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Windsor archive →Windsor and its neighbors
Windsor is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkwood | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 198 |
| Windsor | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Sanford | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Colesville | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
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 Windsor 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 Windsor
Is Windsor at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Windsor has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #722 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Windsor flood?
Flood insurance has paid 43 claims in Windsor since 1978, $1.4M in all, or 14.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (14).
Is Windsor 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 Windsor?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Windsor’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 Windsor?
By FEMA money that reached Windsor, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): $4.6M to the Town of Windsor for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 14 paid, $780K.
Is Windsor at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Windsor’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Windsor.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Windsor’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.