Ulster House Hotel · Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Shandaken than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shandaken gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #749 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 214 claims here since 1980.
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 Shandaken’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Shandaken 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 Shandaken’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shandaken, and Shandaken’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Landslides add 1%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #749 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Shandaken’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, Shandaken has more expected damage per building than 99% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.4M a year in losses across Shandaken: $4.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shandaken flood? Yes: 214 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shandaken, from FEMA’s records: 81.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene82 claims · $4.5M
- The Torrential rain34 claims · $533K
- Tropical Storm Lee3 claims · $132K
Shandaken is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Ulster County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shandaken
Disasters that paid out in Shandaken itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Shandaken), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$25K to the Town of Shandaken for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy2 households applied for aid$42K to the Town of Shandaken for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene49 households applied for aid$108K aid approved$4.3M to the Town of Shandaken for repairs82 flood claims paid for it, $4.5M
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$45K to the Town of Shandaken for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$45K to the Town of Shandaken for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$34K to the Town of Shandaken for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
Show all 13
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding46 households applied for aid$127K aid approved$942K to the Town of Shandaken for repairs38 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan2 households applied for aid$369 aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$98K to the Town of Shandaken for repairs
- 2003Snow$12K to the Town of Shandaken for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Snowstorms$27K to the Town of Shandaken for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$25K to the Town of Shandaken for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$41K to the Town of Shandaken for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $3K
Ulster County has had 28 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Shandaken after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shandaken archive →Shandaken and its neighbors
Shandaken is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olive | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Woodstock | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Hunter | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Middletown | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Shandaken | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 214 |
| Hardenburgh | — | 153 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Lexington | — | 763 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Denning | — | 587 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Shandaken 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.
- Shandaken residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Shandaken
Is Shandaken at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shandaken has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #749 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Shandaken flood?
Flood insurance has paid 214 claims in Shandaken since 1980, $5.9M in all, or 81.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 32 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (82).
Is Shandaken 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 Ulster County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shandaken?
Shandaken is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Shandaken?
By FEMA money that reached Shandaken, Hurricane Irene (2011): 49 households applied for aid, $108K approved, and $4.3M to the Town of Shandaken for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 82 paid, $4.5M.
Is Shandaken at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Shandaken’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shandaken.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shandaken’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.