Natural hazards · Owasco

Owasco, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Owasco comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1981. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Owasco?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Owasco to be higher than in 68% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding87%Everything else14%

By hazard

What Owasco 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 88% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Owasco flood?

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

6paid claims since 1981

$36Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19812026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Fred: 1 claim, $32K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Cayuga County.

Disasters that hit Owasco

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into OwascoDeclared for Cayuga County only

2021

Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred

$154K to the Town of Owasco for repairs

2004

Snow

$6K to the Town of Owasco for repairs

Cayuga County has had 15 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and hurricanes.

Around Owasco

Owasco and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Nilesmostly inland floodingHigh

Owascomostly inland floodingHigh

Flemingmostly inland floodingHigh

Auburnmostly inland floodingModerate

Skaneatelesmostly inland floodingVery low

Sennettmostly inland floodingVery low

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. Owasco covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Owasco’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Owasco. 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 Owasco 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.