Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Fallsburg faces less hazard damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fallsburg gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #427 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 13 claims here since 1981.
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 Fallsburg 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 Fallsburg’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fallsburg, and Fallsburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
B #427 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fallsburg’s residents live in 5 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, Fallsburg has more expected damage per building than 56% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.9M a year in losses across Fallsburg: $5.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fallsburg flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fallsburg, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene5 claims · $35K
- The Late summer storms1 claim · $5K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $3K
Fallsburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sullivan County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fallsburg
Disasters that paid out in Fallsburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Fallsburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$56K to the Town of Fallsburg for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy3 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$110K to the Town of Fallsburg for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene4 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$292K to the Town of Fallsburg for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $35K
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$67K to the Town of Fallsburg for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$507K to the Town of Fallsburg for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$26K to the Town of Fallsburg for repairs
Show all 7
- 2002Snowstorms$45K to the Town of Fallsburg for repairs
Sullivan County has had 26 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 Fallsburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fallsburg archive →Fallsburg and its neighbors
Fallsburg is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thompson | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| Liberty | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Fallsburg | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Mamakating | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Neversink | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Wawarsing | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 75 |
| Mountain Dale | — | 499 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Kiamesha Lake | — | 469 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 Fallsburg 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 Fallsburg
Is Fallsburg at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fallsburg has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #427 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Fallsburg flood?
Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in Fallsburg since 1981, $92K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (5).
Is Fallsburg 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 Sullivan County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fallsburg?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fallsburg’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 Fallsburg?
By FEMA money that reached Fallsburg, Severe Storms and Flooding (2005): $507K to the Town of Fallsburg for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 5 paid, $35K.
Is Fallsburg at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Fallsburg’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fallsburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fallsburg’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.