Thomas Cole House · Photo: Dmadeo · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Catskill as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Catskill gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #462 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 91 claims here since 1978.
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 Catskill 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 Catskill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Catskill, and Catskill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B #462 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Catskill’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Catskill has more expected damage per building than 61% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.5M a year in losses across Catskill: $3.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Catskill flood? Sometimes: 91 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Catskill, from FEMA’s records: 15.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene33 claims · $1.6M
- The Torrential rain3 claims · $43K
- Hurricane Floyd2 claims · $67K
Catskill 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Catskill
Disasters that paid out in Catskill itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Catskill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$24K to the Town of Catskill for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$1.2M to the Town of Catskill for repairs33 flood claims paid for it, $1.6M
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$58K to the Town of Catskill for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$4K to the Town of Catskill for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$10K to the Town of Catskill for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$163K to the Town of Catskill for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2003Snow$12K to the Town of Catskill for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$26K to the Town of Catskill for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to the Town of Catskill for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$15K to the Town of Catskill for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $67K
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 Catskill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Catskill archive →Catskill and its neighbors
Catskill is 5th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germantown | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Greenport | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Saugerties | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| Livingston | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Catskill | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 91 |
| Cairo | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Athens | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Catskill | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Hunter | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Palenville | — | 870 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| South Cairo | — | 619 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 Catskill 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 Catskill
Is Catskill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Catskill has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #462 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Catskill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 91 claims in Catskill since 1978, $4.7M in all, or 15.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (33).
Is Catskill 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 Catskill?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Catskill’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 Catskill?
By FEMA money that reached Catskill, Hurricane Irene (2011): $1.2M to the Town of Catskill for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 33 paid, $1.6M.
Is Catskill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Catskill’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Catskill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Catskill’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.