Photo: Doug Kerr from Upstate New York · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Schoharie’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Schoharie gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #645 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 23 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 Schoharie 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 Schoharie’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Schoharie, and Schoharie’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
C #645 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Schoharie’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Schoharie has more expected damage per building than 85% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Schoharie: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Schoharie flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Schoharie, from FEMA’s records: 17.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene8 claims · $875K
- The Torrential rain2 claims · $72K
Schoharie isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Schoharie County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Schoharie
Disasters that paid out in Schoharie itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Schoharie), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$10K to the Town of Schoharie for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$276K to the Town of Schoharie for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $875K
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$44K to the Town of Schoharie for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$7K to the Town of Schoharie for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$4K to the Town of Schoharie for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Town of Schoharie for repairs
Show all 11
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$16K to the Town of Schoharie for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$13K to the Town of Schoharie for repairs
- 2003Snow$4K to the Town of Schoharie for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$12K to the Town of Schoharie for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$24K to the Town of Schoharie for repairs
Schoharie 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 Schoharie after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Schoharie archive →Schoharie and its neighbors
Schoharie is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duanesburg | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Cobleskill | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Esperance | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 87 |
| Schoharie | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Wright | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Middleburgh | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
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 Schoharie 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 Schoharie
Is Schoharie at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Schoharie has higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #645 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). 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 Schoharie flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Schoharie since 1978, $1.2M in all, or 17.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (8).
Is Schoharie 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 Schoharie County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Schoharie?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Schoharie’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 Schoharie?
By FEMA money that reached Schoharie, Hurricane Irene (2011): $276K to the Town of Schoharie for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 8 paid, $875K.
Is Schoharie at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Schoharie’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Schoharie.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Schoharie’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.