Riders Mills Historic District · Photo: UtsukushiHikariNY · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Chatham’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chatham gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #602 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 2000.
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 Chatham 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 Chatham’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chatham, and Chatham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #602 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Chatham’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Chatham has more expected damage per building than 79% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Chatham: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chatham flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 2000
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chatham, from FEMA’s records: 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $6K
Chatham 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chatham
Disasters that paid out in Chatham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Chatham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$24K to the Town of Chatham for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$154K to the Town of Chatham for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $6K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$21K to the Town of Chatham for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$255K to the Town of Chatham for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$47K to the Town of Chatham for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$144K to the Town of Chatham for repairs
Show all 10
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$16K to the Town of Chatham for repairs
- 2003Snow$14K to the Town of Chatham for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$31K to the Town of Chatham for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$231K to the Town of Chatham 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 Chatham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chatham archive →Chatham and its neighbors
Chatham is 5th of the 7 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 |
| Kinderhook | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Canaan | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Austerlitz | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Chatham | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| New Lebanon | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 62 |
| Nassau | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
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 Chatham 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 Chatham
Is Chatham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chatham has higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #602 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and hurricanes (6%). 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 Chatham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Chatham since 2000, $140K in all, or 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Chatham 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 Chatham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chatham’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 Chatham?
By FEMA money that reached Chatham, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $255K to the Town of Chatham for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $6K.
Is Chatham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Chatham’s rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chatham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chatham’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.