Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Middleburgh

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Middleburgh · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Middleburgh faces more hazard damage per building than 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. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 183 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 95%Hurricanes 2%Tornadoes 1%

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

more than 79%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
C−
in New York · higher than 79% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
95% of expected building damage
Flood claims
183
paid since 1978 · $6.2M
Flooded more than once
19
properties · 5 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
12
of 20 declared for Schoharie County

What stands out about Middleburgh’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

183 paid flood claims since 1978$6.2M in all; 19 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 98% of U.S. towns.Moved out of harm’s way36 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 201166 flood claims were paid for 2011 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

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

95%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Hurricanes Tornadoes Earthquakes Strong wind Ice storms Winter storms Hail Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

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.

Where Middleburgh sits
Middleburgh
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− 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.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding95%Everything else5%

In dollars, FEMA expects about $563K a year in losses across Middleburgh: $479K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Middleburgh’s 1,131 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract, which it shares with Middleburgh town (3,112 residents) and Wright town (1,516 residents). FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s, the same for all of them. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Middleburgh flood? Yes: 183 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Middleburgh, from FEMA’s records: 247.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 0 claims1980: 27 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 1 claim1984: 2 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 27 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 35 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 12 claims2006: 1 claim2007: 4 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 66 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 4 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 2 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198019962011
19782026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Irene66 claims · $5.1M
  • The Torrential rain12 claims · $106K
  • The April 2007 nor’easter4 claims · $11K
183
paid claims since 1978
$6.2M
paid to owners
19
homes flooded more than once
$34K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (5)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
36flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Middleburgh

Disasters that paid out in Middleburgh itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Middleburgh), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to the Village of Middleburgh for repairs
  2. 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee11 households applied for aid$15K aid approved$16K to the Village of Middleburgh for repairs
  3. 2011Hurricane Irene612 households applied for aid$3.0M aid approved$226K to the Village of Middleburgh for repairs66 flood claims paid for it, $5.1M
  4. 2008Severe Winter Storm$8K to the Village of Middleburgh for repairs
  5. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$2K to the Village of Middleburgh for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2006Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$1K to the Village of Middleburgh for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 12
  1. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding33 households applied for aid$54K aid approved$13K to the Village of Middleburgh for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$7K to the Village of Middleburgh for repairs
  3. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$5K to the Village of Middleburgh for repairs
  4. 2003Snow$2K to the Village of Middleburgh for repairs
  5. 2002Snowstorms$7K to the Village of Middleburgh for repairs
  6. 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$59K to the Village of Middleburgh for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in MiddleburghSchoharie County only

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.

Were you here?

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 →
Be ready

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.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

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. 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 183 claims in Middleburgh since 1978, $6.2M in all, or 247.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 19 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (66).

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): 612 households applied for aid, $3.0M approved, and $226K to the Village of Middleburgh for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 66 paid, $5.1M.

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.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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.