Photo: Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Woodstock as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodstock gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #586 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 43 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 Woodstock 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 Woodstock’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Woodstock, and Woodstock’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #586 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Woodstock’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, Woodstock has more expected damage per building than 77% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.8M a year in losses across Woodstock: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Woodstock flood? Sometimes: 43 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Woodstock, from FEMA’s records: 10.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene14 claims · $214K
- The Torrential rain2 claims · $26K
Woodstock 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Woodstock
Disasters that paid out in Woodstock itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Woodstock), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Town of Woodstock for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy16 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$35K to the Town of Woodstock for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee6 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene165 households applied for aid$286K aid approved$167K to the Town of Woodstock for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $214K
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$8K to the Town of Woodstock for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$247K to the Town of Woodstock for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 12
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$77K to the Town of Woodstock for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$3K to the Town of Woodstock for repairs
- 2003Snow$20K to the Town of Woodstock for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Snowstorms$41K to the Town of Woodstock for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$33K to the Town of Woodstock for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$53K to the Town of Woodstock 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 Woodstock after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Woodstock archive →Woodstock and its neighbors
Woodstock is 4th of the 6 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 |
| Saugerties | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| 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 |
| Shandaken | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 214 |
| West Hurley | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Zena | — | 997 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Kingston | — | 945 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 Woodstock 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 Woodstock
Is Woodstock at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodstock has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #586 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Woodstock flood?
Flood insurance has paid 43 claims in Woodstock since 1979, $482K in all, or 10.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (14).
Is Woodstock 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 Woodstock?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Woodstock’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 Woodstock?
By FEMA money that reached Woodstock, Hurricane Irene (2011): 165 households applied for aid, $286K approved, and $167K to the Town of Woodstock for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 14 paid, $214K.
Is Woodstock at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Woodstock’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Woodstock.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Woodstock’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.