FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Ulster than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ulster gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #335 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 178 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 Ulster’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Ulster 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
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 Ulster’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ulster, and Ulster’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #335 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ulster’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, Ulster has less expected damage per building than 56% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Ulster: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ulster flood? Yes: 178 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ulster, from FEMA’s records: 30.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene40 claims · $1.3M
- The Torrential rain38 claims · $2.2M
- The April 2007 nor’easter25 claims · $398K
Ulster isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Ulster County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ulster
Disasters that paid out in Ulster itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Ulster), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$53K to the Town of Ulster for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$104K to the Town of Ulster for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $114K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$462K to the Town of Ulster for repairs40 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$139K to the Town of Ulster for repairs26 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$57K to the Town of Ulster for repairs27 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$496K to the Town of Ulster for repairs40 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
- 2003Snow$26K to the Town of Ulster for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$41K to the Town of Ulster for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$10K to the Town of Ulster for repairs
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 Ulster after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ulster archive →Ulster and its neighbors
Ulster is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurley | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Esopus | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Rhinebeck | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Red Hook | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Ulster | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 178 |
| Saugerties | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| Kingston | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 76 |
| Kingston | — | 945 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Hillside | — | 911 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Ruby | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Lincoln Park | — | 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 Ulster 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.
- 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 Ulster
Is Ulster at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ulster has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #335 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ulster flood?
Flood insurance has paid 178 claims in Ulster since 1980, $4.9M in all, or 30.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 37 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (40).
Is Ulster 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 Ulster?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ulster’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 Ulster?
By FEMA money that reached Ulster, Severe Storms and Flooding (2005): $496K to the Town of Ulster for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 40 paid, $1.3M.
Is Ulster at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Ulster’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ulster.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ulster’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.