Tripp House and Store Complex · Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Durham faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Durham gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #516 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1978.
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 Durham 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 Durham’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Durham, and Durham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #516 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Durham’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, Durham has more expected damage per building than 68% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Durham: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Durham flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Durham, from FEMA’s records: 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene7 claims · $207K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $2K
Durham isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Greene County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Durham
Disasters that paid out in Durham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Durham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$25K to the Town of Durham for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene5 households applied for aid$210K to the Town of Durham for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $207K
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$120K to the Town of Durham for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$35K to the Town of Durham for repairs
- 2003Snow$9K to the Town of Durham for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$19K to the Town of Durham for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$32K to the Town of Durham for repairs
Greene County has had 20 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 Durham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Durham archive →Durham and its neighbors
Durham is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Durham | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Cairo | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Rensselaerville | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Windham | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| East Durham | — | 495 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Conesville | — | 750 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 Durham 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 Durham
Is Durham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Durham has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #516 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) 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 Durham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Durham since 1978, $222K in all, or 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (7).
Is Durham 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 Greene County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Durham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Durham’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 Durham?
By FEMA money that reached Durham, Hurricane Irene (2011): 5 households applied for aid, $0 approved, and $210K to the Town of Durham for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 7 paid, $207K.
Is Durham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Durham’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Durham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Durham’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.