Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Mamakating 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, Mamakating gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #471 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 40 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 Mamakating 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 Mamakating’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mamakating, and Mamakating’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
B #471 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mamakating’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, Mamakating has more expected damage per building than 62% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.2M a year in losses across Mamakating: $3.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mamakating flood? Sometimes: 40 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mamakating, from FEMA’s records: 6.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene9 claims · $122K
- The Torrential rain8 claims · $42K
- Tropical Storm Lee3 claims · $13K
Mamakating isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sullivan County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mamakating
Disasters that paid out in Mamakating itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Mamakating), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$2.6M to the Town of Mamakating for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$66K to the Town of Mamakating for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$215K to the Town of Mamakating for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $122K
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$295K to the Town of Mamakating for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$908K to the Town of Mamakating for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$25K to the Town of Mamakating for repairs
Show all 7
- 2002Snowstorms$53K to the Town of Mamakating for repairs
Sullivan County has had 26 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 Mamakating after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mamakating archive →Mamakating and its neighbors
Mamakating is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thompson | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| Wallkill | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Mount Hope | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Crawford | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Shawangunk | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Fallsburg | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Mamakating | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Deerpark | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 136 |
| Walker Valley | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Bloomingburg | — | 680 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Forestburgh | — | 789 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 Mamakating 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 Mamakating
Is Mamakating at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mamakating has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #471 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mamakating flood?
Flood insurance has paid 40 claims in Mamakating since 1980, $391K in all, or 6.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (9).
Is Mamakating 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 Sullivan County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mamakating?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mamakating’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 Mamakating?
By FEMA money that reached Mamakating, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): $2.6M to the Town of Mamakating for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 9 paid, $122K.
Is Mamakating at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Mamakating’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mamakating.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mamakating’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.