Benjamin Ten Broeck House · Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Greenville faces less hazard damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenville gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #402 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1996.
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 Greenville 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
Hurricanes
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 Greenville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greenville, and Greenville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #402 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Greenville’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, Greenville has more expected damage per building than 53% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Greenville: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greenville flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greenville, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $56K
Greenville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Greene County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Greenville
Disasters that paid out in Greenville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Greenville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$26K to the Town of Greenville for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene40 households applied for aid$52K aid approved$95K to the Town of Greenville for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $56K
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$43K to the Town of Greenville for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$15K to the Town of Greenville for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$46K to the Town of Greenville for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$116K to the Town of Greenville for repairs
Show all 10
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$60K to the Town of Greenville for repairs
- 2003Snow$28K to the Town of Greenville for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$38K to the Town of Greenville for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$11K to the Town of Greenville for repairs
Greene County has had 20 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 Greenville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greenville archive →Greenville and its neighbors
Greenville is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westerlo | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Greenville | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Durham | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Cairo | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| New Baltimore | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Coxsackie | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| East Durham | — | 495 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Greenville 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Greenville
Is Greenville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenville has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #402 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (12%). 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 Greenville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Greenville since 1996, $93K in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Greenville 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 Greene County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Greenville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greenville’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 Greenville?
By FEMA money that reached Greenville, Hurricane Irene (2011): 40 households applied for aid, $52K approved, and $95K to the Town of Greenville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $56K.
Is Greenville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Greenville’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greenville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greenville’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.