Gloversville Free Library · Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Gloversville’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gloversville gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #367 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 38 claims here since 1980.
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 Gloversville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Gloversville 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
Earthquakes
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 Gloversville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gloversville, and Gloversville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 5% (higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #367 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Gloversville’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, Gloversville has less expected damage per building than 52% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.6M a year in losses across Gloversville: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gloversville flood? Sometimes: 38 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gloversville, from FEMA’s records: 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee1 claim · $8K
Gloversville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Fulton County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Gloversville
Disasters that paid out in Gloversville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Gloversville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee13 households applied for aid$6K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $8K
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes22 households applied for aid$28K aid approved
Fulton County has had 12 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 Gloversville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gloversville archive →Gloversville and its neighbors
Gloversville is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Gloversville 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Gloversville
Is Gloversville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gloversville has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #367 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Gloversville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 38 claims in Gloversville since 1980, $422K in all, or 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (1).
Is Gloversville 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 Fulton County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Gloversville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Gloversville’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 Gloversville?
By FEMA money that reached Gloversville, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2003): 22 households applied for aid, $28K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 1 paid, $8K.
Is Gloversville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Gloversville’s rate for it is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gloversville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gloversville’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.