Ashokan-Turnwood Covered Bridge · Photo: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Olive as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Olive gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #475 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 26 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 stands out about Olive’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Olive 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 Olive’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Olive, and Olive’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B #475 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Olive’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, Olive has more expected damage per building than 63% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Olive: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Olive flood? Sometimes: 26 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Olive, from FEMA’s records: 10.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene14 claims · $1.8M
- The Torrential rain2 claims · $11K
Olive isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Ulster County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Olive
Disasters that paid out in Olive itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Olive), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$35K to the Town of Olive for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$326K to the Town of Olive for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $1.8M
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$39K to the Town of Olive for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$62K to the Town of Olive for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$14K to the Town of Olive for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$30K to the Town of Olive for repairs
Show all 7
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$22K to the Town of Olive for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Ulster County has had 28 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Olive after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Olive archive →Olive and its neighbors
Olive is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurley | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Marbletown | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Olive | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Rochester | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Woodstock | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Shandaken | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 214 |
| Denning | — | 587 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Shokan | — | 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 Olive 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 Olive
Is Olive at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Olive has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #475 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (8%). 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 Olive flood?
Flood insurance has paid 26 claims in Olive since 1980, $1.8M in all, or 10.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (14).
Is Olive 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 Ulster County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Olive?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Olive’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 Olive?
By FEMA money that reached Olive, Hurricane Irene (2011): $326K to the Town of Olive for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 14 paid, $1.8M.
Is Olive at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Olive’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Olive.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Olive’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.