Photo: Juliancolton · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Poughkeepsie 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, Poughkeepsie gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #485 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 41 claims here since 1978.
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 Poughkeepsie 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 Poughkeepsie’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Poughkeepsie, and Poughkeepsie’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
B #485 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Poughkeepsie’s residents live in 9 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, Poughkeepsie has more expected damage per building than 64% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.9M a year in losses across Poughkeepsie: $5.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Poughkeepsie flood? Sometimes: 41 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Poughkeepsie, from FEMA’s records: 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene20 claims · $390K
- The April 2007 nor’easter7 claims · $67K
- The Torrential rain2 claims · $5K
Poughkeepsie isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dutchess County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Poughkeepsie
Disasters that paid out in Poughkeepsie itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Poughkeepsie), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida252 households applied for aid$415K aid approved$97K to the City of Poughkeepsie for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$124K to the City of Poughkeepsie for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene873 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$136K to the City of Poughkeepsie for repairs20 flood claims paid for it, $390K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$73K to the City of Poughkeepsie for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding168 households applied for aid$218K aid approved$16K to the City of Poughkeepsie for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$30K to the City of Poughkeepsie for repairs
Dutchess 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 Poughkeepsie after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Poughkeepsie archive →Poughkeepsie and its neighbors
Poughkeepsie is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poughkeepsie | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Lloyd | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Poughkeepsie | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Fairview | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Arlington | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Vassar College | — | 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 Poughkeepsie 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 Poughkeepsie
Is Poughkeepsie at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Poughkeepsie has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #485 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Poughkeepsie flood?
Flood insurance has paid 41 claims in Poughkeepsie since 1978, $557K in all, or 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (20).
Is Poughkeepsie 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 Dutchess County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Poughkeepsie?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Poughkeepsie’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 Poughkeepsie?
By FEMA money that reached Poughkeepsie, Hurricane Irene (2011): 873 households applied for aid, $2.0M approved, and $136K to the City of Poughkeepsie for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 20 paid, $390K.
Is Poughkeepsie at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Poughkeepsie’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Poughkeepsie.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Poughkeepsie’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.