Village of Greenwich Historic District · Photo: Doug Kerr from Upstate New York · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Greenwich as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenwich gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #477 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1981.
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 Greenwich 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 Greenwich’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greenwich, and Greenwich’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
B #477 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Greenwich’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, Greenwich has more expected damage per building than 63% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Greenwich: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greenwich flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greenwich, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Greenwich isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Washington County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Greenwich
Disasters that paid out in Greenwich itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Greenwich), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene$18K to the Town of Greenwich for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$88K to the Town of Greenwich for repairs
Washington County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical 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 Greenwich after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greenwich archive →Greenwich and its neighbors
Greenwich 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northumberland | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Argyle | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Easton | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Fort Edward | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Greenwich | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Jackson | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Saratoga | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Salem | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
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 Greenwich 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 Greenwich
Is Greenwich at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenwich has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #477 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). 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 Greenwich flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Greenwich since 1981, $4K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Greenwich 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 Washington County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Greenwich?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greenwich’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 Greenwich?
By FEMA money that reached Greenwich, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $88K to the Town of Greenwich for repairs.
Is Greenwich at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Greenwich’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greenwich.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greenwich’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.