Photo: Dclemens1971 · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Kingsbury’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kingsbury gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #137 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Kingsbury 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
Earthquakes
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 Kingsbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kingsbury, and Kingsbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts).
A #137 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Kingsbury’s residents live in 4 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, Kingsbury has less expected damage per building than 82% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Kingsbury: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kingsbury flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Kingsbury. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Kingsbury 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 Kingsbury
Disasters that paid out in Kingsbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Kingsbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene$15K to the Town of Kingsbury for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$41K to the Town of Kingsbury 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 Kingsbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kingsbury archive →Kingsbury and its neighbors
Kingsbury is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moreau | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Kingsbury | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Hudson Falls | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Argyle | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Queensbury | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Hartford | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Fort Edward | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Fort Ann | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
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 Kingsbury 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Kingsbury
Is Kingsbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kingsbury has lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #137 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Kingsbury 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 Kingsbury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kingsbury’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 Kingsbury?
By FEMA money that reached Kingsbury, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $41K to the Town of Kingsbury for repairs.
Is Kingsbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Kingsbury’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kingsbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kingsbury’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.