Enter any address in Herkimer County, New York to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from slow-moving thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Herkimer County. Between 2024 and 2025, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 142 flash flood events and 116 flood events. For example, on May 6, 2025, slow-moving thunderstorms dropped 2 to 3 inches of rain in 1 to 2 hours, causing flooding and flash flooding concentrated in the villages of Ilion, Mohawk, and Herkimer.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows a mix of flood zones with varying claim payouts and water depths. Zone A, with 242 claims, averaged $10,938 and 4.1 feet of water. Zone X_UNSHADED had 42 claims averaging $22,481 and 5.0 feet of water, while Zone X had 41 claims averaging $38,677 and 8.0 feet of water. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X_SHADED and Zone X, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
108 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Herkimer County, New York has recorded 260 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 142 flash floods and 116 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1974–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 31, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Mar 14, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 13, 2014 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Jun 26, 2013 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 27, 2012 |
| Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee | Severe Storm | Sep 7, 2011 |
| Hurricane Irene | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Flood | Apr 26, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | May 6, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 6, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 6, 2025 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 6, 2025 | 50.00K |
| Flood | May 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 6, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 6, 2025 | 20.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 2.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 10.00K |
Flood — May 6, 2025
Slow-moving thunderstorms resulted in flooding and flash flooding across portions of southern Herkimer County during the afternoon and early evening hours on May 6, 2025. Flooding was mostly concentrated within the villages of Ilion, Mohawk and Herkimer, where 2 to 3 inches of rain fell in a 1 to 2 hour period. While most of the flooding occurred with an initial batch of thunderstorms, an addit...
Flash Flood — May 6, 2025
Slow-moving thunderstorms resulted in flooding and flash flooding across portions of southern Herkimer County during the afternoon and early evening hours on May 6, 2025. Flooding was mostly concentrated within the villages of Ilion, Mohawk and Herkimer, where 2 to 3 inches of rain fell in a 1 to 2 hour period. While most of the flooding occurred with an initial batch of thunderstorms, an addit...
Flood — Dec 18, 2023
An area of low pressure tracked up the East Coast and intensified in the process as it brought widespread moderate to heavy rainfall across eastern New York on December 18, 2023. Rainfall totals were between 2 and 5 inches with the highest amounts across the eastern Catskills. This rain led to both areal and river flooding across the region. Some rivers didn't recede until December 22.||States ...
Flood — Aug 4, 2023
A slow moving low pressure system brought multiple rounds of scattered showers and thunderstorms across eastern New York from August 3 to August 4, 2023. Isolated thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours on August 3 in the system's warm sector producing locally damaging wind gusts, small hail and also a funnel cloud. Additional thunderstorm activity developed ahead of a cold front dur...
Flash Flood — Aug 4, 2023
A slow moving low pressure system brought multiple rounds of scattered showers and thunderstorms across eastern New York from August 3 to August 4, 2023. Isolated thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours on August 3 in the system's warm sector producing locally damaging wind gusts, small hail and also a funnel cloud. Additional thunderstorm activity developed ahead of a cold front dur...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Herkimer County, New York:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Herkimer County, New York that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.