Natural hazards · McDonough

McDonough, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in McDonough comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1979. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is McDonough?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in McDonough to be higher than in 56% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding81%Cold waves6%Tornadoes6%Everything else7%

By hazard

What McDonough faces

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

Inland flooding

81% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 60% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

6% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 45% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 52 years in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat 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 McDonough flood?

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

7paid claims since 1979

$71Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Torrential rain: 3 claims, $29K
Tropical Storm Lee: 2 claims, $18K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Chenango County.

Disasters that hit McDonough

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into McDonoughDeclared for Chenango County only

2019

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$682K to the Town of McDonough for repairs

2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$6K to the Town of McDonough for repairs

2011

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

$45K to the Town of McDonough for repairs

2009

Severe Storms and Flooding

$47K to the Town of McDonough for repairs

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

$19K to the Town of McDonough for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

$108K to the Town of McDonough for repairs

2003

Ice Storm

$12K to the Town of McDonough for repairs

2003

Snow

$6K to the Town of McDonough for repairs

2002

Snowstorms

$8K to the Town of McDonough for repairs

2000

Severe Storms and Flooding

$6K to the Town of McDonough for repairs

Chenango County has had 25 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around McDonough

McDonough and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Smithvillemostly inland floodingHigh

Pharsaliamostly inland floodingModerate

Germanmostly inland floodingModerate

McDonoughmostly inland floodingModerate

Prestonmostly 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. McDonough covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to McDonough’s own flood-insurance community (here, the census tracts inside it); household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of McDonough. 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 McDonough total about $868K 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.