Natural hazards · Watson

Watson, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Watson comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1984. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Watson?

High

vs. U.S. communities

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

Inland flooding85%Everything else15%

By hazard

What Watson faces

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

Inland flooding

85% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. places

Recorded about once 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 Watson flood?

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

4paid claims since 1984

$36Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19842026

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Lewis County.

Disasters that hit Watson

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WatsonDeclared for Lewis County only

2024

Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$427K to the Town of Watson for repairs

2014

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$16K to the Town of Watson for repairs

2011

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

$2K to the Town of Watson for repairs

2007

Record Snow and Near Record Snow

$8K to the Town of Watson for repairs

2004

Snow

$7K to the Town of Watson for repairs

2000

Severe Storms and Flooding

$4K to the Town of Watson for repairs

1999

Snow

$6K to the Town of Watson for repairs

Lewis County has had 23 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and severe storms.

Around Watson

Watson and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Watsonmostly inland floodingHigh

Greigmostly inland floodingModerate

Webbmostly inland floodingModerate

Croghanmostly inland floodingModerate

Martinsburgmostly inland floodingLow

New Bremenmostly inland floodingLow

Lowvillemostly inland floodingLow

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. Watson covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Watson’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Watson. 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 Watson total about $1.4M 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.