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Steuben County, New York

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

Relatively Low overall risk
26th of 62highest risk in New York
$33Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Steuben County, New York has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 77% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 62 counties in New York. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $33 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $352 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (remnants of tropical storm debby). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (472 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.1 million on 375 claims here, including $773,000 for floods in 1996.

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

Top risks in Steuben County

$27.7 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.
$1.5 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate87.5
$28M
TornadoLow58.1
$1M
Cold waveLow56.7
$1M
Strong windModerate56.9
$596K
LightningModerate76.5
$566K
HurricaneLow70.1
$541K
Heat waveLow44.4
$254K
HailLow48.7
$223K
DroughtLow55.5
$192K
EarthquakeVery Low38.6
$125K
Ice stormLow47.0
$67K
Winter weatherLow34.1
$32K
LandslideLow80.5
$15K
WildfireVery Low30.7
$13K
AvalancheVery Low56.0
$894

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood6
Hurricane3
Snowstorm2
Fire1
Tropical Storm1

Most recent

Sep 24, 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm DebbyMajor disaster
Oct 8, 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm FredMajor disaster
Jul 8, 2014Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jun 10, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 30, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 1, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 1, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 21
Sep 11, 2001Fires and ExplosionsMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 9, 1996Severe Storms High Winds, Rain and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergency
Mar 21, 1991Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 25, 1984Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 1976Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 2, 1975Storms, Rains, Landslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 762 storm reports in Steuben County since 1956, with 2 deaths and 9 injuries and about $139 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on August 7, 1972.

9tornadoes
131hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
429damaging thunderstorm winds
182floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 7, 1972F1–2 / 1
Jul 26, 2012EF1South Corning0 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF1Campbell0 / 0
Jul 27, 2013EF1Troupsburg0 / 0
Aug 12, 2005F1Canisteo0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 9, 2024Flash FloodGreenwood$35M
Aug 9, 2024Flash FloodHedgesville$30M
Aug 18, 2021Flash FloodJasper$25M
Nov 8, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$14M
Jul 22, 2003Flash FloodSouthwest Portion$5M
Jan 19, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$4M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Steuben County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 22 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1933most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph22 mi
Sep 17, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Sep 17, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph22 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph48 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 Steuben County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (472 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.1 millionpaid on 375 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $773,466 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 Steuben County

$137,900median home value (New York $423,800, US $332,700)
1963median year homes were built (New York 1959, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.8%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; 47,665 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
Ontario CountyLow16
Chemung CountyLow15
Livingston CountyLow16
Allegany CountyLow21
Tioga County, PALow18
Yates CountyLow17
Schuyler CountyVery Low11
Potter County, PAVery Low12

Common questions about Steuben County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Steuben County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Steuben County, about $27.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Steuben County had?

Steuben County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby in September 2024.

Is Steuben County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 26th 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 Steuben County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Steuben 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 Steuben County had?

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Steuben County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on August 7, 1972. The weather service has also logged 131 hail reports and 182 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Steuben County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Steuben County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with winds near 70 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.