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Fulton County, New York

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

Relatively Low overall risk
53rd of 62highest risk in New York
$17Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Fulton County, New York has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 51% of US counties. It ranks 53rd of 62 counties in New York. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $310 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in December 2019 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (73 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $874,000 on 116 claims here.

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

Top risks in Fulton County

$12 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$917,963 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow66.4
$12M
Cold waveLow58.6
$1M
TornadoLow40.0
$918K
Strong windModerate53.0
$641K
EarthquakeVery Low58.1
$437K
HurricaneLow64.5
$356K
LightningLow44.7
$205K
Ice stormModerate61.6
$154K
HailVery Low30.9
$133K
Heat waveVery Low27.5
$124K
Winter weatherLow60.2
$97K
WildfireVery Low27.4
$13K
LandslideVery Low45.5
$1K
AvalancheVery Low14.5
$19

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 Fulton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Snowstorm3
Hurricane3
Fire1

Most recent

Dec 19, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2017Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 13, 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeMajor disaster
Aug 31, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2003SnowstormsEmergency
Show all 14
Sep 11, 2001Fires and ExplosionsMajor disaster
Sep 11, 1998Ny - Severe Wx, Sept 7, 1998Major disaster
Dec 9, 1996Severe Storms High Winds, Rain and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergency

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 380 storm reports in Fulton County since 1959, with 0 deaths and 16 injuries and about $5.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 27, 1978.

11tornadoes
66hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
257damaging thunderstorm winds
37floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 27, 1978F1–0 / 0
May 31, 2002F1Johnstown0 / 0
Aug 23, 1986F1–1 / 0
May 1, 1991F1–0 / 0
Jun 30, 2017EF1Hill Corners0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 7, 1998Thunderstorm WindGloversville$1M
Aug 13, 2016Thunderstorm WindCanada Lake$1M
Jul 15, 1995Thunderstorm WindCountywide$500K
Nov 9, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$400K
Jun 27, 1978Tornado–$250K
Sep 7, 1998Thunderstorm WindBroadalbin$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1876, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Fulton County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1876, with top winds near 45 mph about 58 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1876most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Fulton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (73 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$873,738paid on 116 flood claims since 1978
2006costliest year, with $264,407 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 Fulton County

$163,100median home value (New York $423,800, US $332,700)
1954median year homes were built (New York 1959, US 1980)
75%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.6%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; 28,199 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
Saratoga CountyLow16
Herkimer CountyLow21
Montgomery CountyLow22
Hamilton CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Fulton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Fulton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fulton County, about $12 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Fulton County had?

Fulton County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in December 2019.

Is Fulton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 53rd 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 Fulton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Fulton 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 Fulton County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Fulton County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 27, 1978. The weather service has also logged 66 hail reports and 37 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Fulton County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Fulton County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1876, with winds near 45 mph.

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.