Cayuga County, NY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Cayuga County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred in 2022. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Cayuga County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, inland flooding, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 52 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Cayuga County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1972, covering 8 disaster types including flood (5), hurricane (3), severe storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2003 | Other | Power Outage |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1972.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 32.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 78.1 | 38 | 0 | $5.0M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 21.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 47.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 42.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 39.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 64.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 59.2 | 13 | 0 | $6K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 62 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 72.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 86.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 22 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 47.6 | 2 | 0 | $5K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 56.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 45.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 29.7 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Cayuga County ranks in the 52nd percentile (Moderate) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 52nd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 45th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 21st | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 34th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 88th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 4th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 4th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 58.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 52 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 25 in 2016–20 vs 27 in 2021–25 (+8% — relatively stable).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Cayuga County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Cayuga County, New York are ice storm, inland flooding, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Cayuga County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Cayuga County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2022. The most common disaster type on record is flood (5 declarations).
Has Cayuga County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Cayuga County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred in 2022.
How does Cayuga County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Onondaga County, NY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Seneca County, NY has the lowest (Very Low). Cayuga County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Cayuga County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Cayuga County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Cayuga County's composite score of 62 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 62% of US counties.