US Post Office-Scotia Station · Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Glenville faces less hazard damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Glenville gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #408 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 34 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 stands out about Glenville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Glenville 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 Glenville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Glenville, and Glenville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #408 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Glenville’s residents live in 8 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, Glenville has more expected damage per building than 54% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.2M a year in losses across Glenville: $6.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Glenville flood? Sometimes: 34 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Glenville, 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 Irene12 claims · $384K
- The Torrential rain2 claims · $33K
- Hurricane Gloria1 claim · $4K
Glenville 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Glenville
Disasters that paid out in Glenville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Glenville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$41K to the Town of Glenville for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee2 households applied for aid$462 aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene26 households applied for aid$50K aid approved$126K to the Town of Glenville for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $384K
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$146K to the Town of Glenville for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$352K to the Town of Glenville for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$5K to the Town of Glenville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2003Ice Storm$32K to the Town of Glenville for repairs
- 2003Snow$15K to the Town of Glenville for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$41K to the Town of Glenville for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$120K to the Town of Glenville 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 Glenville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Glenville archive →Glenville and its neighbors
Glenville is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niskayuna | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Ballston | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Charlton | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Rotterdam | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Glenville | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Amsterdam | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Schenectady | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 128 |
| East Glenville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Glenville 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 Glenville
Is Glenville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Glenville has lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #408 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Glenville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 34 claims in Glenville since 1978, $541K in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (12).
Is Glenville 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 Glenville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Glenville’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 Glenville?
By FEMA money that reached Glenville, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $352K to the Town of Glenville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 12 paid, $384K.
Is Glenville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Glenville’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Glenville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Glenville’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.