Photo: J. Passepartout · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Clinton as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clinton gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #481 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 7 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 Clinton 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 Clinton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clinton, and Clinton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
B #481 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Clinton’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, Clinton has more expected damage per building than 63% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Clinton: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clinton flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clinton, from FEMA’s records: 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $62K
- The April 2007 nor’easter2 claims · $39K
Clinton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dutchess County.The storms Clinton remembers
None of the 20 disasters declared for Dutchess County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Clinton itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20113 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Irene, declared for Dutchess County
- 20072 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding, declared for Dutchess County
- 19961 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Dutchess County
Dutchess County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical 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 Clinton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Clinton archive →Clinton and its neighbors
Clinton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhinebeck | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Washington | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Milan | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Hyde Park | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Clinton | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Stanford | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Pleasant Valley | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| Salt Point | — | 322 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 Clinton 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 Clinton
Is Clinton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clinton has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #481 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) 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 Clinton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Clinton since 1996, $130K in all, or 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (3).
Is Clinton 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 Dutchess County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Clinton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clinton’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 Clinton?
By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 3 paid, $62K.
Is Clinton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Clinton’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clinton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clinton’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.