Storms, floods and disasters in Schoharie
Schoharie isn’t graded for hazard risk: FEMA’s tract figures aren’t matched to Schoharie yet. Flood insurance has paid 127 claims here since 1980.
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.
Does Schoharie flood? Yes: 127 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Schoharie, from FEMA’s records.
- Hurricane Irene89 claims · $12.5M
- The Torrential rain3 claims · $26K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $5K
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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Schoharie
Disasters that paid out in Schoharie itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Schoharie), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$4K to the Village of Schoharie for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee5 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene432 households applied for aid$3.8M aid approved$1.6M to the Village of Schoharie for repairs89 flood claims paid for it, $12.5M
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$26K to the Village of Schoharie for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$7K to the Village of Schoharie for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$549 aid approved$9K to the Village of Schoharie for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2003Snow$2K to the Village of Schoharie for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$3K to the Village of Schoharie for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Village of Schoharie for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$6K to the Village 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 →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
Does Schoharie flood?
Flood insurance has paid 127 claims in Schoharie since 1980, $13.2M in all. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (89).
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): 432 households applied for aid, $3.8M approved, and $1.6M to the Village of Schoharie for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 89 paid, $12.5M.
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.