Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Claverack as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Claverack gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #489 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1979.
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 Claverack 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 Claverack’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Claverack, and Claverack’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B #489 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Claverack’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, Claverack has more expected damage per building than 64% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Claverack: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Claverack flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Claverack, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $249
Claverack 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 Claverack
Disasters that paid out in Claverack itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Claverack), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Town of Claverack for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene5 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$221K to the Town of Claverack for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $249
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$25K to the Town of Claverack for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$10K to the Town of Claverack for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$521K to the Town of Claverack for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$183K to the Town of Claverack for repairs
Show all 10
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes1 households applied for aid$5K to the Town of Claverack for repairs
- 2003Snow$12K to the Town of Claverack for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$22K to the Town of Claverack for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$4K to the Town of Claverack for repairs
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 Claverack after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Claverack archive →Claverack and its neighbors
Claverack 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenport | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Ghent | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Taghkanic | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Livingston | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Claverack | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Hillsdale | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Stockport | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Lorenz Park | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Stottville | — | 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 Claverack 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 Claverack
Is Claverack at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Claverack has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #489 of 758 in New York. 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 Claverack flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Claverack since 1979, $15K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Claverack 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 Claverack?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Claverack’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 Claverack?
By FEMA money that reached Claverack, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $521K to the Town of Claverack for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $249.
Is Claverack at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Claverack’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Claverack.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Claverack’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.