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Clinton County, New York

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
33rd of 62highest risk in New York
$28Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clinton County, New York has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 69% of US counties. It ranks 33rd of 62 counties in New York. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $28 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $351 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (149 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.2 million on 296 claims here, including $3.2 million for floods in 2011.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Clinton County

$21.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 300 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$728,015 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate82.4
$22M
EarthquakeLow83.5
$2M
Cold waveLow42.5
$728K
Strong windModerate54.2
$625K
Ice stormHigh83.9
$560K
LightningModerate71.0
$521K
TornadoLow26.3
$400K
Heat waveLow47.2
$331K
Winter weatherModerate82.2
$235K
HurricaneLow61.2
$234K
HailVery Low14.9
$51K
WildfireVery Low24.2
$10K
LandslideLow64.9
$4K
AvalancheVery Low48.8
$486

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Clinton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Snowstorm3
Flood3
Hurricane3
Fire1
Earthquake1

Most recent

Jul 22, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2017Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Aug 31, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Jun 10, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 30, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 16, 2002EarthquakeMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2001Fires and ExplosionsMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jul 7, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 6, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 9, 1996Severe Storms High Winds, Rain and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergency

New York also had 12 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 363 storm reports in Clinton County since 1960, with 2 deaths and 4 injuries and about $53.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on June 10, 2025 near Beekmantown.

2tornadoes
93hail reports, largest 2.25 inches
205damaging thunderstorm winds
50floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 10, 2025EF0Beekmantown0 / 0
Jul 8, 2004F0Mooers0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 9, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$23M
Aug 28, 2011Flash FloodFrontier$9M
Jun 27, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$7M
Jul 1, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Jun 11, 2013FloodStandish$2M
Jul 12, 2010Thunderstorm WindPeru$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 1, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Clinton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (149 policies)
10.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.2 millionpaid on 296 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $3.2 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Clinton County

$180,600median home value (New York $423,800, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (New York 1959, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.3%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 37,658 housing units.

Compare in New York

All 62 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Kings CountyHighInland flooding
Queens CountyHighInland flooding
New York CountyHighInland flooding
Suffolk CountyHighInland flooding
Bronx CountyHighInland flooding
Nassau CountyHighInland flooding
Westchester CountyHighInland flooding
Erie CountyHighInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Chittenden County, VTLow30
Franklin CountyLow16
Essex CountyLow21
Grand Isle County, VTVery Low16

Common questions about Clinton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clinton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clinton County, about $21.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $2.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Clinton County had?

Clinton County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023.

Is Clinton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 33rd highest of 62 in New York. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Clinton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Clinton County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Clinton County had?

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Clinton County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on June 10, 2025 near Beekmantown. The weather service has also logged 93 hail reports and 50 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.