Old Southeast Church · Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Southeast than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Southeast gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #229 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2007.
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 Southeast 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
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
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 Southeast’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Southeast, and Southeast’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts).
A #229 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Southeast’s residents live in 4 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, Southeast has less expected damage per building than 70% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Southeast: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Southeast flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 2007
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Southeast, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $21K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $2K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $8K
Southeast isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Putnam County.The storms Southeast remembers
None of the 20 disasters declared for Putnam County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Southeast itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20113 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Irene, declared for Putnam County
- 20071 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding, declared for Putnam County
- 20211 flood claims paidThe year of Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared for Putnam County
Putnam County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical 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 Southeast after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Southeast archive →Southeast and its neighbors
Southeast is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 77 |
| Patterson | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Southeast | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| North Salem | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Danbury | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 186 |
| Taylor Corners | — | 481 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Putnam Lake | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Southeast 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Southeast
Is Southeast at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Southeast has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #229 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Southeast flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Southeast since 2007, $36K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (2).
Is Southeast 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 Putnam County, 63% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Southeast?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Southeast’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 Southeast?
By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 2 paid, $21K.
Is Southeast at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Southeast’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Southeast.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Southeast’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.