Natural hazards · Worcester

Worcester, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Worcester comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2006. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Worcester?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Worcester to be higher than in 84% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding84%Cold waves9%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Worcester faces

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

Inland flooding

84% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

9% 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 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 Worcester flood?

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

5paid claims since 2006

$50Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

20062026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Lee: 2 claims, $10K
Hurricane Irene: 1 claim, $29K

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. Worcester 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 Worcester

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WorcesterDeclared for Otsego County only

2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$13K to the Town of Worcester for repairs

2011

Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee

8 households applied for aid $30K aid approved $87K to the Town of Worcester for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

10 households applied for aid $13K aid approved

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

$25K to the Town of Worcester for repairs

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

37 households applied for aid $58K aid approved $138K to the Town of Worcester for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

$26K to the Town of Worcester for repairs

2003

Ice Storm

$6K to the Town of Worcester for repairs

2002

Snowstorms

$19K to the Town of Worcester for repairs

2000

Severe Storms and Flooding

$4K to the Town of Worcester for repairs

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

Around Worcester

Worcester and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Worcestermostly inland floodingVery high

Marylandmostly inland floodingHigh

Summitmostly inland floodingHigh

Decaturmostly inland floodingHigh

Richmondvillemostly inland floodingHigh

Westfordmostly inland floodingHigh

Harpersfieldmostly 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. Worcester covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Worcester’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Worcester. 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 Worcester total about $1.8M 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.