Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Philipstown 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, Philipstown gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #466 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 41 claims here since 1979.
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 Philipstown 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 Philipstown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Philipstown, and Philipstown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
B #466 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Philipstown’s residents live in 3 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, Philipstown has more expected damage per building than 61% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Philipstown: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Philipstown flood? Sometimes: 41 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Philipstown, from FEMA’s records: 9.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene16 claims · $416K
- Hurricane Sandy5 claims · $501K
- The April 2007 nor’easter4 claims · $90K
Philipstown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Putnam County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Philipstown
Disasters that paid out in Philipstown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Philipstown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$280K to the Town of Philipstown for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$462K to the Town of Philipstown for repairs
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$50K to the Town of Philipstown for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$6K to the Town of Philipstown for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $416K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$660K to the Town of Philipstown for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$39K to the Town of Philipstown for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$47K to the Town of Philipstown for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$330K to the Town of Philipstown for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $24K
Putnam County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe 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 Philipstown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Philipstown archive →Philipstown and its neighbors
Philipstown is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Cortlandt | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 74 |
| Putnam Valley | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
| Stony Point | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 77 |
| Fishkill | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 48 |
| Philipstown | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Cornwall | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Highlands | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Philipstown 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 Philipstown
Is Philipstown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Philipstown has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #466 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Philipstown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 41 claims in Philipstown since 1979, $1.3M in all, or 9.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (16).
Is Philipstown 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 Putnam County, 63% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Philipstown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Philipstown’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 Philipstown?
By FEMA money that reached Philipstown, Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding (2007): $660K to the Town of Philipstown for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 16 paid, $416K.
Is Philipstown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Philipstown’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Philipstown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Philipstown’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.