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Natural hazards · Decatur

Decatur, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Decatur comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2009. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations
Expected damage

How exposed is Decatur?

67
High
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Decatur to be higher than in 67% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding75%Cold waves15%Everything else9%
By hazard

What Decatur faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

75% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

15% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 60% of U.S. places
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningAvalanches

Not a risk here

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

Does Decatur flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Decatur, from FEMA’s records.

3paid claims since 2009
$49Kpaid to owners
1homes flooded more than once
20092026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Irene: 2 claims, $45K

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. Decatur isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Otsego County.
Disasters that hit Decatur

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Decatur itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Town of Decatur.

Brought FEMA money into DecaturDeclared for Otsego County only
2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$5K to the Town of Decatur for repairs
2011

Hurricane Irene

$18K to the Town of Decatur for repairs
2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

$79K to the Town of Decatur for repairs
2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

$17K to the Town of Decatur for repairs
2003

Ice Storm

$3K to the Town of Decatur for repairs
2002

Snowstorms

$4K to the Town of Decatur for repairs
Otsego County has had 21 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.
Around Decatur

Decatur and the towns around it

Roseboom: High, mostly inland floodingWorcester: Very high, mostly inland floodingWestford: High, mostly inland floodingSeward: Low, mostly inland floodingCherry Valley: Moderate, mostly inland floodingMiddlefield: High, mostly inland floodingSharon: Low, mostly inland floodingHarpersfield: Moderate, mostly inland floodingSummit: High, mostly inland floodingRichmondville: High, mostly inland floodingMaryland: High, mostly inland floodingCobleskill: Low, mostly inland floodingDecatur: High, mostly inland flooding DecaturRoseboomWorcesterWestfordSeward
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Worcestermostly inland floodingVery high
Decaturmostly inland floodingHigh
Roseboommostly inland floodingHigh
Westfordmostly inland floodingHigh
Sewardmostly inland floodingLow
About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.
Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Decatur is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Decatur’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Decatur. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.

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You’re in Decatur, NYOtsego CountyView boundary

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01
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