Dr. Christopher S. Best House and Office · Photo: Lvklock · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Middleburgh’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Middleburgh gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #701 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 68 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 Middleburgh 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
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 Middleburgh’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Middleburgh, and Middleburgh’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #701 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Middleburgh’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Middleburgh has more expected damage per building than 92% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Middleburgh: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Middleburgh flood? Sometimes: 68 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Middleburgh, from FEMA’s records: 41.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene36 claims · $3.1M
- The Torrential rain7 claims · $63K
- The March 2010 nor’easter1 claim · $8K
Middleburgh isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Schoharie County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Middleburgh
Disasters that paid out in Middleburgh itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Middleburgh), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$570K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs36 flood claims paid for it, $3.1M
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$24K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$59K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$131K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$9K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs
Show all 13
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$38K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$24K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$16K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs
- 2003Snow$7K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$14K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$20K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$48K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs
Schoharie 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 Middleburgh after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Middleburgh archive →Middleburgh and its neighbors
Middleburgh is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobleskill | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Berne | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Schoharie | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Fulton | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Wright | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Middleburgh | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| Broome | — | 773 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 Middleburgh 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.
- 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 Middleburgh
Is Middleburgh at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Middleburgh has higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #701 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). 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 Middleburgh flood?
Flood insurance has paid 68 claims in Middleburgh since 1980, $3.5M in all, or 41.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (36).
Is Middleburgh 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 Schoharie County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Middleburgh?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Middleburgh’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 Middleburgh?
By FEMA money that reached Middleburgh, Hurricane Irene (2011): $570K to the Town of Middleburgh for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 36 paid, $3.1M.
Is Middleburgh at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Middleburgh’s rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Middleburgh.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Middleburgh’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.