Photo: Tyler A. McNeil · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Austerlitz faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Austerlitz gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1984.
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 Austerlitz 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 Austerlitz’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Austerlitz, and Austerlitz’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
B− higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Austerlitz’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $827K a year in losses across Austerlitz: $712K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Austerlitz flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Austerlitz, from FEMA’s records: 4.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Austerlitz isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Columbia County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Austerlitz
Disasters that paid out in Austerlitz itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Austerlitz), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$12K to the Town of Austerlitz for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene14 households applied for aid$59K aid approved$47K to the Town of Austerlitz for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Town of Austerlitz for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$31K to the Town of Austerlitz for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$75K to the Town of Austerlitz for repairs
- 2003Snow$5K to the Town of Austerlitz for repairs
Show all 8
- 2002Snowstorms$14K to the Town of Austerlitz for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$156K to the Town of Austerlitz for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Columbia County has had 19 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 Austerlitz after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Austerlitz archive →Austerlitz and its neighbors
Austerlitz is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghent | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Canaan | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Hillsdale | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Austerlitz | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Chatham | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
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 Austerlitz 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 Austerlitz
Is Austerlitz at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Austerlitz has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (8%). 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 Austerlitz flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Austerlitz since 1984, $38K in all, or 4.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Austerlitz 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 Columbia County, 0.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Austerlitz?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Austerlitz’s 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 Austerlitz?
By FEMA money that reached Austerlitz, Severe Storms and Flooding (2000): $156K to the Town of Austerlitz for repairs.
Is Austerlitz at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Austerlitz’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Austerlitz.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Austerlitz’s 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.