Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, New York, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Athens as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Athens gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). 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 Athens 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
Hurricanes
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 Athens’ grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Athens, and Athens’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Athens’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $772K a year in losses across Athens: $681K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Athens flood? Sometimes: 19 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Athens, from FEMA’s records: 20.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy8 claims · $483K
- Hurricane Irene6 claims · $171K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $2K
Athens isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Greene County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Athens
Disasters that paid out in Athens itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Athens), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$8K to the Village of Athens for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$22K to the Village of Athens for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $483K
- 2011Hurricane Irene29 households applied for aid$30K aid approved$30K to the Village of Athens for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $171K
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$15K to the Village of Athens for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$20K to the Village of Athens for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes8 households applied for aid$716 aid approved
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$2K to the Village of Athens for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$7K to the Village of Athens for repairs
Greene County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Athens after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Athens archive →Athens and its neighbors
Athens is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Greenport | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Athens | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Athens | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Sleepy Hollow Lake | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Athens 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Athens
Is Athens at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Athens has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (10%). 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 Athens flood?
Flood insurance has paid 19 claims in Athens since 1996, $725K in all, or 20.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (8).
Is Athens 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 Greene County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Athens?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Athens’ 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 Athens?
By FEMA money that reached Athens, Hurricane Irene (2011): 29 households applied for aid, $30K approved, and $30K to the Village of Athens for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 8 paid, $483K.
Is Athens at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Athens’ rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Athens.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Athens’ 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.