Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Greene’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greene gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #686 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 43 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 Greene 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 Greene’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greene, and Greene’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #686 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Greene’s residents live in 2 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, Greene has more expected damage per building than 90% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Greene: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greene flood? Sometimes: 43 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greene, from FEMA’s records: 16.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee10 claims · $359K
- The Torrential rain5 claims · $75K
Greene isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chenango County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Greene
Disasters that paid out in Greene itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Greene), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$217K to the Town of Greene for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to the Town of Greene for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$35K to the Town of Greene for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$139K to the Town of Greene for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $359K
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$162K to the Town of Greene for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding$58K to the Town of Greene for repairs
Show all 12
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$1.1M to the Town of Greene for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$252K to the Town of Greene for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$199K to the Town of Greene for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$10K to the Town of Greene for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$38K to the Town of Greene for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$147K to the Town of Greene for repairs
Chenango County has had 24 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 Greene after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greene archive →Greene and its neighbors
Greene is 5th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triangle | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Fenton | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Barker | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Smithville | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Greene | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Oxford | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Coventry | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Colesville | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
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 Greene 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 Greene
Is Greene at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greene has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #686 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Greene flood?
Flood insurance has paid 43 claims in Greene since 1979, $1.2M in all, or 16.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (10).
Is Greene 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 Chenango County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Greene?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greene’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 Greene?
By FEMA money that reached Greene, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): $1.1M to the Town of Greene for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 10 paid, $359K.
Is Greene at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Greene’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greene.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greene’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.