Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Duanesburg than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Duanesburg gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #170 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). 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 Duanesburg 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
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 Duanesburg’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Duanesburg, and Duanesburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
A #170 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Duanesburg’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, Duanesburg has less expected damage per building than 78% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Duanesburg: $889K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Duanesburg flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Duanesburg, from FEMA’s records: 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $453K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $19K
Duanesburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Schenectady County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Duanesburg
Disasters that paid out in Duanesburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Duanesburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$11K to the Town of Duanesburg for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene15 households applied for aid$25K aid approved$422K to the Town of Duanesburg for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $453K
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$42K to the Town of Duanesburg for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$2K to the Town of Duanesburg for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$15K to the Town of Duanesburg for repairs
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$6K to the Town of Duanesburg for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$15K to the Town of Duanesburg for repairs
Schenectady County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe 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 Duanesburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Duanesburg archive →Duanesburg and its neighbors
Duanesburg has the lowest expected damage per building of the 8 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duanesburg | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Knox | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Princetown | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Charleston | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Florida | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Esperance | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 87 |
| Schoharie | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Wright | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Esperance | — | 248 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 Duanesburg 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.
- 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 Duanesburg
Is Duanesburg at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Duanesburg has lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #170 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). 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 Duanesburg flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Duanesburg since 1996, $493K in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (4).
Is Duanesburg 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 Schenectady County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Duanesburg?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Duanesburg’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 Duanesburg?
By FEMA money that reached Duanesburg, Hurricane Irene (2011): 15 households applied for aid, $25K approved, and $422K to the Town of Duanesburg for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 4 paid, $453K.
Is Duanesburg at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Duanesburg’s rate for it is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Duanesburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Duanesburg’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.