Photo: Adam Moss from Highland Park, NJ, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Rotterdam faces less hazard damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rotterdam gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #283 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 39 claims here since 1986.
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 Rotterdam’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rotterdam, and Rotterdam’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #283 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rotterdam’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, Rotterdam has less expected damage per building than 63% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.8M a year in losses across Rotterdam: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rotterdam flood? Sometimes: 39 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rotterdam, from FEMA’s records: 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene19 claims · $1.8M
- Tropical Storm Lee2 claims · $5K
- Hurricane Floyd2 claims · $14K
Rotterdam 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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rotterdam
Disasters that paid out in Rotterdam itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Rotterdam), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$43K to the Town of Rotterdam for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene20 households applied for aid$31K aid approved$398K to the Town of Rotterdam for repairs19 flood claims paid for it, $1.8M
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$4K to the Town of Rotterdam for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$405K to the Town of Rotterdam for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$126K to the Town of Rotterdam for repairs
- 2003Snow$24K to the Town of Rotterdam for repairs
Show all 7
- 2002Snowstorms$69K to the Town of Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rotterdam archive →Rotterdam and its neighbors
Rotterdam is 3rd of the 7 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 |
| Colonie | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 89 |
| Rotterdam | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Princetown | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Glenville | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Florida | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Schenectady | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 128 |
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 Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam
Is Rotterdam at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rotterdam has lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #283 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rotterdam flood?
Flood insurance has paid 39 claims in Rotterdam since 1986, $2.0M in all, or 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (19).
Is Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rotterdam’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 Rotterdam?
By FEMA money that reached Rotterdam, Hurricane Irene (2011): 20 households applied for aid, $31K approved, and $398K to the Town of Rotterdam for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 19 paid, $1.8M.
Is Rotterdam at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Rotterdam’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rotterdam.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rotterdam’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.