Photo: Elisa.rolle · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Hillsdale faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hillsdale gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1995.
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 Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hillsdale, and Hillsdale’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
B− lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Hillsdale’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across Hillsdale: $893K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hillsdale flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hillsdale, from FEMA’s records: 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee2 claims · $13K
Hillsdale isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Columbia County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hillsdale
Disasters that paid out in Hillsdale itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hillsdale), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$39K to the Town of Hillsdale for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene19 households applied for aid$40K aid approved$208K to the Town of Hillsdale for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$38K to the Town of Hillsdale for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$446K to the Town of Hillsdale for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$355K to the Town of Hillsdale for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$230K to the Town of Hillsdale for repairs
Show all 10
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$29K to the Town of Hillsdale for repairs
- 2003Snow$8K to the Town of Hillsdale for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$15K to the Town of Hillsdale for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$88K to the Town of Hillsdale for repairs
Columbia County has had 19 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 Hillsdale after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hillsdale archive →Hillsdale and its neighbors
Hillsdale is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghent | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Claverack | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Hillsdale | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Austerlitz | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Copake | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
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 Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale
Is Hillsdale at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hillsdale has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (9%). 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 Hillsdale flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Hillsdale since 1995, $30K in all, or 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (2).
Is Hillsdale 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 Columbia County, 0.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Hillsdale?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hillsdale’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 Hillsdale?
By FEMA money that reached Hillsdale, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $446K to the Town of Hillsdale for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 2 paid, $13K.
Is Hillsdale at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Hillsdale’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hillsdale.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hillsdale’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.