Photo: Tyler A. McNeil · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Schaghticoke as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Schaghticoke gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #563 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 29 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 Schaghticoke 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 Schaghticoke’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Schaghticoke, and Schaghticoke’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #563 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Schaghticoke’s residents live in 2 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, Schaghticoke has more expected damage per building than 74% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Schaghticoke: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Schaghticoke flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Schaghticoke, from FEMA’s records: 9.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene6 claims · $162K
- Tropical Storm Lee1 claim · $2K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $7K
Schaghticoke isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rensselaer County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Schaghticoke
Disasters that paid out in Schaghticoke itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Schaghticoke), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$42K to the Town of Schaghticoke for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$136K to the Town of Schaghticoke for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $162K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$25K to the Town of Schaghticoke for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$186K to the Town of Schaghticoke for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Town of Schaghticoke for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Town of Schaghticoke for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 7
- 2002Snowstorms$49K to the Town of Schaghticoke for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Rensselaer County has had 21 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 Schaghticoke after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Schaghticoke archive →Schaghticoke and its neighbors
Schaghticoke is 5th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halfmoon | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Brunswick | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Easton | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Pittstown | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Schaghticoke | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Stillwater | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Waterford | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 116 |
| Troy | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 129 |
| Mechanicville | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Stillwater | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Cambridge | — | not graded yet | |
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 Schaghticoke 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 Schaghticoke
Is Schaghticoke at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Schaghticoke has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #563 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Schaghticoke flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Schaghticoke since 1979, $312K in all, or 9.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (6).
Is Schaghticoke 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 Rensselaer County, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Schaghticoke?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Schaghticoke’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 Schaghticoke?
By FEMA money that reached Schaghticoke, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $186K to the Town of Schaghticoke for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 6 paid, $162K.
Is Schaghticoke at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Schaghticoke’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Schaghticoke.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Schaghticoke’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.