Jackson-Aitken Farm · Photo: Vonsky87 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Andes than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Andes gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 19 claims here since 1996.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Andes faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Andes’ grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Andes, and Andes’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Andes’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $900K a year in losses across Andes: $791K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Andes flood? Sometimes: 19 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Andes, from FEMA’s records: 14.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Debby7 claims · $135K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $1K
Andes isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Delaware County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Andes
Disasters that paid out in Andes itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Andes), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby$3.1M to the Town of Andes for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $135K
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$630K to the Town of Andes for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Town of Andes for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee1 households applied for aid$817 aid approved$347K to the Town of Andes for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene6 households applied for aid$31K aid approved$29K to the Town of Andes for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $1K
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$122K to the Town of Andes for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 13
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$1.6M to the Town of Andes for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding47 households applied for aid$42K aid approved$4.1M to the Town of Andes for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$307K to the Town of Andes for repairs
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan5 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$372K to the Town of Andes for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$4K to the Town of Andes for repairs
- 2003Snow$6K to the Town of Andes for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$23K to the Town of Andes for repairs
Delaware County has had 30 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Andes after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Andes archive →Andes and its neighbors
Andes is 2nd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamden | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Andes | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Delhi | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Middletown | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Colchester | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 100 |
| Bovina | — | 683 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Hardenburgh | — | 153 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Andes faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Andes
Is Andes at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Andes has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Andes flood?
Flood insurance has paid 19 claims in Andes since 1996, $266K in all, or 14.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Debby (7).
Is Andes in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Delaware County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Andes?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Andes’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Andes?
By FEMA money that reached Andes, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 47 households applied for aid, $42K approved, and $4.1M to the Town of Andes for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Debby: 7 paid, $135K.
Is Andes at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Andes’ rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Andes.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Andes’ residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.