FEMA puts Princetown’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Princetown gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1996.
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 Princetown 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 Princetown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Princetown, and Princetown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
A− lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Princetown’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $477K a year in losses across Princetown: $397K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Princetown flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Princetown, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Princetown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Schenectady County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Princetown
Disasters that paid out in Princetown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Princetown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene$23K to the Town of Princetown for repairs
Schenectady County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter 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 Princetown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Princetown archive →Princetown and its neighbors
Princetown 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilderland | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Duanesburg | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Rotterdam | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Princetown | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Florida | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
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 Princetown 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 Princetown
Is Princetown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Princetown has lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). 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 Princetown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Princetown since 1996, $397 in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Princetown 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 Schenectady County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Princetown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Princetown’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 Princetown?
By FEMA money that reached Princetown, Hurricane Irene (2011): $23K to the Town of Princetown for repairs.
Is Princetown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Princetown’s rate for it is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Princetown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Princetown’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.