Photo: Alanbell · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in LaGrange as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, LaGrange gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #460 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then hurricanes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 44 claims here since 1978.
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 LaGrange 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 LaGrange’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in LaGrange, and LaGrange’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 17% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
B #460 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
LaGrange’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, LaGrange has more expected damage per building than 61% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.8M a year in losses across LaGrange: $4.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does LaGrange flood? Sometimes: 44 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in LaGrange, from FEMA’s records: 7.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain9 claims · $111K
- Hurricane Irene8 claims · $114K
- The April 2007 nor’easter7 claims · $148K
LaGrange isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dutchess County.The storms LaGrange remembers
None of the 20 disasters declared for Dutchess County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching LaGrange itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20059 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20219 flood claims paidThe year of Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared for Dutchess County
- 20118 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Irene, declared for Dutchess County
Dutchess County has had 20 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 LaGrange after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the LaGrange archive →LaGrange and its neighbors
LaGrange is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Vale | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Poughkeepsie | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Wappinger | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| LaGrange | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Beekman | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| East Fishkill | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 120 |
| Pleasant Valley | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| Red Oaks Mill | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| MacDonnell Heights | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 LaGrange 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 LaGrange
Is LaGrange at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, LaGrange has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #460 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and hurricanes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does LaGrange flood?
Flood insurance has paid 44 claims in LaGrange since 1978, $711K in all, or 7.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Torrential rain (9).
Is LaGrange 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 Dutchess County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in LaGrange?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for LaGrange’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 LaGrange?
By flood claims, Torrential rain: 9 paid, $111K.
Is LaGrange at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and LaGrange’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in LaGrange.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where LaGrange’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.