Home › New York › Oneida County

Oneida County, New York

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Moderate overall risk
17th of 62highest risk in New York
$55Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Oneida County, New York has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 86% of US counties. It ranks 17th of 62 counties in New York. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $55 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $236 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in November 2022 (severe winter storm and snowstorm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (465 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $16 million on 1,069 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Oneida County

$39.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate91.1
$39M
Cold waveModerate87.5
$5M
TornadoModerate71.9
$2M
Strong windHigh93.6
$2M
EarthquakeLow80.1
$2M
LightningHigh89.1
$1M
Ice stormHigh91.0
$926K
Winter weatherVery High96.9
$868K
Heat waveLow64.3
$638K
HurricaneLow70.1
$539K
HailLow42.7
$177K
WildfireVery Low38.5
$21K
LandslideVery Low59.3
$2K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Oneida County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood5
Snowstorm5
Hurricane3
Fire1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Nov 20, 2022Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormEmergency
Oct 8, 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm FredMajor disaster
Dec 19, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2017Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 13, 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeMajor disaster
Sep 8, 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeEmergency
Jun 10, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2007Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
Show all 24
Jul 1, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 1, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 3, 2004SnowEmergency
May 12, 2003Ice StormMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2003SnowstormsEmergency
Sep 11, 2001Fires and ExplosionsMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 11, 1998Ny - Severe Wx, Sept 7, 1998Major disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergency
Jul 21, 1976Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 23, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

New York also had 12 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,086 storm reports in Oneida County since 1960, with 8 deaths and 29 injuries and about $137 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 2, 1983.

32tornadoes
265hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
629damaging thunderstorm winds
132floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 2, 1983F3–0 / 0
Jul 16, 2024EF2Rome0 / 0
Jul 23, 1990F2–0 / 0
Jun 22, 2025EF1Clark Mills0 / 3
Jun 29, 1960F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 27, 2006Flash FloodCountywide$50M
May 2, 1983Tornado–$25M
Jul 15, 1995Thunderstorm WindCountywide$20M
Sep 7, 1998Thunderstorm WindVerona$10M
Jul 16, 2024TornadoRome$4M
Sep 7, 2011Flash FloodUtica$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 1, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1876, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Oneida County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1876, with top winds near 45 mph about 64 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1933most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Oneida County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (465 policies)
20.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$16.2 millionpaid on 1,069 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $4 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Oneida County

$182,600median home value (New York $423,800, US $332,700)
1958median year homes were built (New York 1959, US 1980)
75%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.5%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 105,443 housing units.

Compare in New York

All 62 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Kings CountyHighInland flooding
Queens CountyHighInland flooding
New York CountyHighInland flooding
Suffolk CountyHighInland flooding
Bronx CountyHighInland flooding
Nassau CountyHighInland flooding
Westchester CountyHighInland flooding
Erie CountyHighInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Oswego CountyLow17
Madison CountyLow20
Herkimer CountyLow21
Otsego CountyLow23
Lewis CountyVery Low24

Cities in Oneida County

Common questions about Oneida County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Oneida County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Oneida County, about $39.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $5.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Oneida County had?

Oneida County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm in November 2022.

Is Oneida County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 17th highest of 62 in New York. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Oneida County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Oneida County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Oneida County had?

NOAA records list 32 tornadoes in Oneida County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 2, 1983. The weather service has also logged 265 hail reports and 132 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Oneida County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Oneida County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1876, with winds near 45 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.