Natural hazards · Herkimer

Herkimer, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Herkimer comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 13 claims here since 1979. 11 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Herkimer?

High

vs. U.S. communities

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

Inland flooding87%Everything else14%

By hazard

What Herkimer faces

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

Inland flooding

87% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Herkimer flood?

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

13paid claims since 1979

$161Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19792026

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Herkimer County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

7flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Herkimer

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into HerkimerDeclared for Herkimer County only

2019

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$165K to the Village of Herkimer for repairs

2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$23K to the Village of Herkimer for repairs

2014

Severe Storms and Flooding

$108K to the Village of Herkimer for repairs

2013

Severe Storms and Flooding

$2.9M to the Village of Herkimer for repairs

2011

Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee

6 households applied for aid $2K aid approved $13K to the Village of Herkimer for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

21 households applied for aid $44K aid approved $6K to the Village of Herkimer for repairs

2011

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

$53K to the Village of Herkimer for repairs

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

30 households applied for aid $15K aid approved $103K to the Village of Herkimer for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

$11K to the Village of Herkimer for repairs

2002

Snowstorms

$36K to the Village of Herkimer for repairs

2000

Severe Storms and Flooding

$112K to the Village of Herkimer for repairs

Herkimer County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Herkimer

Herkimer and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

German Flattsmostly inland floodingHigh

Herkimermostly inland floodingHigh

Mohawkmostly inland floodingHigh

Herkimermostly inland floodingModerate

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. Herkimer covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Herkimer’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Village of Herkimer. 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 Herkimer total about $742K 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.