Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, New Baltimore 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, New Baltimore gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #562 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2011.
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 New Baltimore 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 New Baltimore’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Baltimore, and New Baltimore’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #562 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of New Baltimore’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, New Baltimore has more expected damage per building than 74% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across New Baltimore: $914K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Baltimore flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Baltimore, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $9K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $20K
New Baltimore isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Greene County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to New Baltimore
Disasters that paid out in New Baltimore itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of New Baltimore), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$29K to the Town of New Baltimore for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene3 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$62K to the Town of New Baltimore for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $20K
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$76K to the Town of New Baltimore for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$24K to the Town of New Baltimore for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$35K to the Town of New Baltimore for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$33K to the Town of New Baltimore for repairs
Show all 9
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$44K to the Town of New Baltimore for repairs
- 2003Snow$11K to the Town of New Baltimore for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$26K to the Town of New Baltimore for repairs
Greene County has had 20 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 New Baltimore after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Baltimore archive →New Baltimore and its neighbors
New Baltimore is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeymans | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Greenville | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Stuyvesant | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| New Baltimore | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Coxsackie | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 New Baltimore 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 New Baltimore
Is New Baltimore at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Baltimore has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #562 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and hurricanes (9%). 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 New Baltimore flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in New Baltimore since 2011, $32K in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (1).
Is New Baltimore 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 Greene County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in New Baltimore?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Baltimore’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 New Baltimore?
By FEMA money that reached New Baltimore, Hurricane Irene (2011): 3 households applied for aid, $16K approved, and $62K to the Town of New Baltimore for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 1 paid, $9K.
Is New Baltimore at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and New Baltimore’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Baltimore.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Baltimore’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.