Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Troy than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Troy gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #727 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 129 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 stands out about Troy’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Troy 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 Troy’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Troy, and Troy’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #727 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Troy’s residents live in 16 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, Troy has more expected damage per building than 96% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.7M a year in losses across Troy: $16.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Troy flood? Yes: 129 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Troy, from FEMA’s records: 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene75 claims · $1.8M
- The Late summer storms1 claim · $4K
Troy 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Troy
Disasters that paid out in Troy itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Troy), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$126K to the City of Troy for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene295 households applied for aid$577K aid approved$4.5M to the City of Troy for repairs75 flood claims paid for it, $1.8M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$44K to the City of Troy for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$129K to the City of Troy for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$266K to the City of Troy for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$41K to the City of Troy for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 9
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$13K to the City of Troy for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes2 households applied for aid$585 aid approved
- 2002Snowstorms$76K to the City of Troy for repairs
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 Troy after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Troy archive →Troy and its neighbors
Troy is 8th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colonie | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 89 |
| Brunswick | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| North Greenbush | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Watervliet | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Schaghticoke | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Waterford | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 116 |
| Green Island | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Troy | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 129 |
| Waterford | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 185 |
| Green Island | — | not graded yet | |
| Wynantskill | — | 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 Troy 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 Troy
Is Troy at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Troy has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #727 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 Troy flood?
Flood insurance has paid 129 claims in Troy since 1979, $2.3M in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (75).
Is Troy 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 Troy?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Troy’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 Troy?
By FEMA money that reached Troy, Hurricane Irene (2011): 295 households applied for aid, $577K approved, and $4.5M to the City of Troy for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 75 paid, $1.8M.
Is Troy at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Troy’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Troy.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Troy’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.