Natural hazards · Otego

Otego, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Otego comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1993. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Otego?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Otego to be higher than in 83% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding79%Cold waves13%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Otego faces

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

Inland flooding

79% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

13% 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 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 Otego flood?

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

8paid claims since 1993

$142Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19932026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Lee: 3 claims, $49K

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. Otego 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 Otego

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into OtegoDeclared for Otsego County only

2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$15K to the Town of Otego for repairs

2011

Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee

$387K to the Town of Otego for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$10K to the Town of Otego for repairs

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

$374K to the Town of Otego for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

$91K to the Town of Otego for repairs

2002

Snowstorms

$15K to the Town of Otego for repairs

Otsego County has had 21 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around Otego

Otego and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Otegomostly inland floodingVery high

Laurensmostly inland floodingVery high

Butternutsmostly inland floodingHigh

Morrismostly inland floodingHigh

Franklinmostly inland floodingHigh

Unadillamostly inland floodingHigh

Sidneymostly inland floodingHigh

Oneontamostly 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. Otego covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Otego’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Otego. 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 Otego total about $1.6M 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.