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Tioga County, New York

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

Relatively Low overall risk
44th of 62highest risk in New York
$20Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 38homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Tioga County, New York has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 60% of US counties. It ranks 44th of 62 counties in New York. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $412 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2021 (remnants of tropical storm fred). About 1 in 38 homes here carry federal flood insurance (556 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $61 million on 1,558 claims here, including $47 million for floods in 2011.

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

Top risks in Tioga County

$17.5 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.
$948,353 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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.
$324,814 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 floodingModerate78.9
$17M
TornadoLow43.8
$948K
Cold waveLow25.9
$325K
HurricaneLow62.7
$260K
Strong windLow25.6
$230K
Heat waveLow40.3
$220K
LightningLow44.1
$179K
EarthquakeVery Low32.6
$90K
Ice stormLow49.7
$79K
DroughtLow41.2
$70K
HailVery Low18.4
$61K
WildfireVery Low23.9
$9K
Winter weatherVery Low8.1
$6K
LandslideLow69.7
$5K
AvalancheVery Low37.6
$183

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 Tioga County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood6
Snowstorm3
Hurricane3
Fire1

Most recent

Oct 8, 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm FredMajor disaster
Dec 19, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 1, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2017Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor 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
Dec 12, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 23
Sep 30, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 19, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 1, 2004Tropical Depression IvanMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2003SnowstormsEmergency
Sep 11, 2001Fires and ExplosionsMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergency
Jul 21, 1976Severe Storms & 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 1967

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 421 storm reports in Tioga County since 1967, with 0 deaths and 11 injuries and about $606 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 2, 1983.

8tornadoes
87hail reports, largest 2 inches
249damaging thunderstorm winds
72floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 2, 1983F3–1 / 0
May 2, 1983F3–0 / 0
Aug 27, 1988F1–0 / 0
May 31, 2002F1Owego7 / 0
Jul 26, 2012EF1Lockwood0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 7, 2011FloodOwego$309M
Jun 27, 2006Flash FloodCountywide$100M
Sep 7, 2011Flash FloodOwego$70M
Sep 7, 2011Flash FloodApalachin$25M
Sep 7, 2011Flash FloodStraits Corners$20M
Sep 7, 2011FloodLitchfield$16M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Tioga County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1903, with top winds near 60 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
1979most recent: David

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 17, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph47 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph50 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 6, 1979DavidTropical storm, 45 mph47 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph50 mi
Sep 17, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph57 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 Tioga County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (556 policies)
28%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$61.2 millionpaid on 1,558 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $46.7 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 Tioga County

$160,800median home value (New York $423,800, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (New York 1959, US 1980)
66%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.9%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; 22,104 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
Broome CountyModerate26
Tompkins CountyLow16
Chemung CountyLow15
Bradford County, PALow19
Cortland CountyLow15
Susquehanna County, PALow22

Common questions about Tioga County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tioga County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Tioga County, about $17.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $948,353.

How many federal disasters has Tioga County had?

Tioga County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred in October 2021.

Is Tioga County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 44th 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 Tioga County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 38 homes in Tioga 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 Tioga County had?

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Tioga County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 2, 1983. The weather service has also logged 87 hail reports and 72 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Tioga County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Tioga County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1903, with winds near 60 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.