Natural hazards · Hancock

Hancock, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Hancock comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 100 claims here since 1978. 15 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Hancock?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Hancock to be higher than in 85% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding92%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Hancock faces

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

Inland flooding

92% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat 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 Hancock flood?

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

100paid claims since 1978

$2.0Mpaid to owners

22homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Torrential rain: 19 claims, $312K
Hurricane Irene: 5 claims, $60K
Tropical Storm Lee: 3 claims, $54K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (5) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Hancock isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Delaware County.

Disasters that hit Hancock

15 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into HancockDeclared for Delaware County only

2024

Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby

$643K to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2018

Severe Storms and Flooding

$892K to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$37K to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2014

Severe Storms and Flooding

$108K to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2011

Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee

$72K to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$20K to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2011

Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds

$19K to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2008

Severe Winter Storm

$92K to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

$10.8M to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

$1.8M to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2004

Tropical Depression Ivan

$427K to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

$31K to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2003

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

$16K to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2003

Snow

$13K to the Town of Hancock for repairs

2002

Snowstorms

$34K to the Town of Hancock for repairs

Delaware County has had 30 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Hancock

Hancock and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Colchestermostly inland floodingVery high

Hancockmostly inland floodingVery high

Tompkinsmostly inland floodingVery high

Buckinghammostly inland floodingHigh

Manchestermostly inland floodingHigh

Fremontmostly inland floodingHigh

Scottmostly 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. Hancock covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Hancock’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Hancock. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Hancock total about $3.9M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

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.