Photo: Amy Lavine · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Kingston 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, Kingston gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #518 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 76 claims 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 stands out about Kingston’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Kingston 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 Kingston’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kingston, and Kingston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #518 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Kingston’s residents live in 8 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, Kingston has more expected damage per building than 68% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.1M a year in losses across Kingston: $5.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kingston flood? Sometimes: 76 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kingston, from FEMA’s records: 6.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy14 claims · $509K
- The April 2007 nor’easter12 claims · $119K
- Hurricane Irene10 claims · $311K
Kingston isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Ulster County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Kingston
Disasters that paid out in Kingston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Kingston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$49K to the City of Kingston for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy38 households applied for aid$136K aid approved$4.2M to the City of Kingston for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $509K
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee16 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$1K to the City of Kingston for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene402 households applied for aid$720K aid approved$241K to the City of Kingston for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $311K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding39 households applied for aid$72K aid approved$108K to the City of Kingston for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding30 households applied for aid$26K aid approved$23K to the City of Kingston for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding200 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved$25K to the City of Kingston for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan5 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$9K to the City of Kingston for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding25 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$35K to the City of Kingston for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$52K to the City of Kingston for repairs
Ulster County has had 28 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Kingston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kingston archive →Kingston and its neighbors
Kingston is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esopus | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Rhinebeck | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Ulster | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 178 |
| Kingston | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 76 |
| Hillside | — | 911 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Port Ewen | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Lincoln Park | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| East Kingston | — | 227 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 Kingston 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 Kingston
Is Kingston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kingston has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #518 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Kingston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 76 claims in Kingston since 1980, $2.2M in all, or 6.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 17 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (14).
Is Kingston 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 Ulster County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Kingston?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kingston’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 Kingston?
By FEMA money that reached Kingston, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 38 households applied for aid, $136K approved, and $4.2M to the City of Kingston for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 14 paid, $509K.
Is Kingston at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Kingston’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kingston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kingston’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.