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BHazard risk
Natural hazards in Dolgeville · FEMA

FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Dolgeville as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dolgeville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 51 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 92%Earthquakes 2%Hurricanes 2%

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

less than 58%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
B
in New York · lower than 58% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
92% of expected building damage
Flood claims
51
paid since 1979 · $750K
Flooded more than once
5
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
8
of 18 declared for Herkimer County

What stands out about Dolgeville’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Moved out of harm’s way20 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 198613 flood claims were paid for 1986 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Dolgeville 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

92%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Hurricanes Tornadoes Ice storms Strong wind Winter storms Hail Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Dolgeville’s grade

River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dolgeville, and Dolgeville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Dolgeville sits
Dolgeville
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Dolgeville’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding92%Everything else8%

In dollars, FEMA expects about $667K a year in losses across Dolgeville: $537K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Dolgeville covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Dolgeville flood? Sometimes: 51 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dolgeville, from FEMA’s records: 51.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 6 claims1980: 3 claims1981: 1 claim1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 13 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 1 claim1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 1 claim1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 5 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 6 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 2 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 6 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 6 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197919862010
19792026
51
paid claims since 1979
$750K
paid to owners
5
homes flooded more than once
$15K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Dolgeville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Herkimer County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
20flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Dolgeville

Disasters that paid out in Dolgeville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Dolgeville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$9.1M to the Village of Dolgeville for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to the Village of Dolgeville for repairs
  3. 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$1.3M to the Village of Dolgeville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2011Hurricane Irene3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
  5. 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Village of Dolgeville for repairs
  6. 2006Severe Storms and Flooding42 households applied for aid$40K aid approved$911K to the Village of Dolgeville for repairs
Show all 8
  1. 2002Snowstorms$9K to the Village of Dolgeville for repairs
  2. 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$29K to the Village of Dolgeville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in DolgevilleHerkimer County only

Herkimer County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.

Were you here?

Old photos of Dolgeville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Dolgeville archive →
Next door

Dolgeville and its neighbors

Dolgeville is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Manheim: hazard risk BOppenheim: hazard risk C−ManheimOppenheimDolgeville
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
ManheimBless damage than 62%river and rain flooding8
DolgevilleBless damage than 58%river and rain flooding51
OppenheimC−more damage than 76%river and rain flooding—

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Dolgeville faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Dolgeville

Is Dolgeville at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dolgeville has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Dolgeville flood?

Flood insurance has paid 51 claims in Dolgeville since 1979, $750K in all, or 51.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once.

Is Dolgeville 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 Herkimer County, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.

How much is flood insurance in Dolgeville?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Dolgeville’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 Dolgeville?

By FEMA money that reached Dolgeville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $9.1M to the Village of Dolgeville for repairs.

Is Dolgeville at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Dolgeville’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dolgeville.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dolgeville’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.