FEMA puts Greenfield’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenfield gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #401 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim 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 Greenfield 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 Greenfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greenfield, and Greenfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #401 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Greenfield’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, Greenfield has more expected damage per building than 53% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Greenfield: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greenfield flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greenfield, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Greenfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Saratoga County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Greenfield
Disasters that paid out in Greenfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Greenfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$78K to the Town of Greenfield for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$38K to the Town of Greenfield for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$26K to the Town of Greenfield for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$314K to the Town of Greenfield for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$16K to the Town of Greenfield for repairs
Saratoga County has had 13 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 Greenfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greenfield archive →Greenfield and its neighbors
Greenfield is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilton | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Saratoga Springs | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Providence | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Greenfield | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Corinth | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Milton | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Greenfield 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 Greenfield
Is Greenfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenfield has lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #401 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 Greenfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Greenfield since 1980, $24K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Greenfield 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 Saratoga County, 0.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Greenfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greenfield’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 Greenfield?
By FEMA money that reached Greenfield, Severe Storms and Flooding (2004): $314K to the Town of Greenfield for repairs.
Is Greenfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Greenfield’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greenfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greenfield’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.