Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Ellenville faces more hazard damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ellenville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #673 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 27 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 Ellenville 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 Ellenville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ellenville, and Ellenville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
C #673 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ellenville’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Ellenville has more expected damage per building than 89% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Ellenville: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ellenville flood? Sometimes: 27 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ellenville, from FEMA’s records: 14.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene10 claims · $452K
- The Torrential rain6 claims · $135K
- The April 2007 nor’easter3 claims · $36K
Ellenville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Ulster County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ellenville
Disasters that paid out in Ellenville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Ellenville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Village of Ellenville for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy10 households applied for aid$683 aid approved
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee11 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene222 households applied for aid$544K aid approved$520K to the Village of Ellenville for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $452K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding9 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$330K to the Village of Ellenville for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
Show all 10
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding18 households applied for aid$23K aid approved$4K to the Village of Ellenville for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2003Snow$7K to the Village of Ellenville for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$17K to the Village of Ellenville for repairs
Ulster County has had 28 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.
Old photos of Ellenville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ellenville archive →Ellenville and its neighbors
Ellenville is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shawangunk | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Ellenville | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Wawarsing | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 75 |
| Cragsmoor | — | 481 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 Ellenville 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 Ellenville
Is Ellenville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ellenville has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #673 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ellenville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 27 claims in Ellenville since 1979, $752K in all, or 14.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (10).
Is Ellenville 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 Ulster County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ellenville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ellenville’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 Ellenville?
By FEMA money that reached Ellenville, Hurricane Irene (2011): 222 households applied for aid, $544K approved, and $520K to the Village of Ellenville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 10 paid, $452K.
Is Ellenville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Ellenville’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ellenville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ellenville’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.