Photo: Dougtone (Doug Kerr) on Flickr.com · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Green Island’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Green Island gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #690 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 5 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 Green Island 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 Green Island’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Green Island, and Green Island’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #690 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Green Island’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, Green Island has more expected damage per building than 91% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Green Island: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Green Island flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Green Island, from FEMA’s records: 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $29K
Green Island isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Albany County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Green Island
Disasters that paid out in Green Island itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Green Island), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Village of Green Island for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene1 households applied for aid$32K to the Village of Green Island for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $29K
- 2003Snow$6K to the Village of Green Island for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$47K to the Village of Green Island for repairs
Albany County has had 16 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 Green Island after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Green Island archive →Green Island and its neighbors
Green Island is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colonie | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 89 |
| Watervliet | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Cohoes | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Green Island | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Troy | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 129 |
| Green Island | — | not graded yet | |
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 Green Island 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 Green Island
Is Green Island at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Green Island has higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #690 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). 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 Green Island flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Green Island since 1979, $35K in all, or 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (2).
Is Green Island 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 Albany County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Green Island?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Green Island’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 Green Island?
By FEMA money that reached Green Island, Snowstorms (2002): $47K to the Village of Green Island for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 2 paid, $29K.
Is Green Island at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Green Island’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Green Island.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Green Island’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.