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Natural hazards · Otsego

Otsego, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Otsego comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1986. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Otsego?

61
High
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Otsego to be higher than in 61% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding81%Cold waves11%Everything else7%
By hazard

What Otsego 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 84% of U.S. places
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

11% 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 Otsego flood?

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

8paid claims since 1986
$40Kpaid to owners
0homes flooded more than once
19862026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Irene: 1 claim, $16K
of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Otsego 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 Otsego

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into OtsegoDeclared for Otsego County only
2013

Severe Storms and Flooding

$42K to the Town of Otsego for repairs
2011

Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee

$6K to the Town of Otsego for repairs
2011

Hurricane Irene

$3K to the Town of Otsego for repairs
2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

$600K to the Town of Otsego for repairs
2003

Ice Storm

$11K to the Town of Otsego for repairs
2002

Snowstorms

$17K to the Town of Otsego for repairs
Otsego County has had 21 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.
Around Otsego

Otsego and the towns around it

Middlefield: High, mostly inland floodingHartwick: High, mostly inland floodingExeter: High, mostly inland floodingSpringfield: Moderate, mostly inland floodingBurlington: Moderate, mostly inland floodingRichfield: High, mostly inland floodingMilford: High, mostly inland floodingRoseboom: High, mostly inland floodingWestford: High, mostly inland floodingCherry Valley: Moderate, mostly inland floodingNew Lisbon: Moderate, mostly inland floodingPlainfield: High, mostly inland floodingWarren: Moderate, mostly inland floodingStark: Low, mostly inland floodingEdmeston: High, mostly inland floodingWinfield: Moderate, mostly inland floodingRichfield Springs: High, mostly inland floodingColumbia: Moderate, mostly inland floodingOtsego: High, mostly inland flooding OtsegoMiddlefieldHartwickExeterSpringfieldBurlingtonRichfield
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Middlefieldmostly inland floodingHigh
Exetermostly inland floodingHigh
Hartwickmostly inland floodingHigh
Richfieldmostly inland floodingHigh
Otsegomostly inland floodingHigh
Burlingtonmostly inland floodingModerate
Springfieldmostly 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. Otsego covers 1 census tract, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Otsego’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Otsego. 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 Otsego total about $2.5M 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.

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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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