Natural hazards · Wells

Wells, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Wells comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2019. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Wells?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Wells to be higher than in 81% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding88%Cold waves6%Everything else6%

By hazard

What Wells faces

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

Inland flooding

88% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 50% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningAvalanches

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtTsunamisVolcanic 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 Wells flood?

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

5paid claims since 2019

$264Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

20192026

Biggest named events

December Nor'easter: 2 claims, $184K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Hamilton County.

Disasters that hit Wells

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WellsDeclared for Hamilton County only

2019

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$1.9M to the Town of Wells for repairs

2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$4K to the Town of Wells for repairs

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

$77K to the Town of Wells for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

$16K to the Town of Wells for repairs

Hamilton County has had 13 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around Wells

Wells and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Wellsmostly inland floodingVery high

Hopemostly inland floodingVery high

Bensonmostly inland floodingVery high

Stony Creekmostly inland floodingHigh

Johnsburgmostly inland floodingModerate

Indian Lakemostly inland floodingModerate

Lake Pleasantmostly inland floodingModerate

Speculatormostly inland floodingModerate

Ariettamostly 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. Wells covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Wells’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Wells. 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 Wells total about $1.1M 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.