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Greene County, New York

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

Relatively Low overall risk
35th of 62highest risk in New York
$25Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Greene County, New York has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 68% of US counties. It ranks 35th of 62 counties in New York. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $25 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $528 per resident. Since 1987 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2021 (Hurricane Henri). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (292 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $19 million on 587 claims here, including $13 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 Greene County

$19.8 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.
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 20 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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 floodingModerate81.8
$20M
HurricaneLow81.4
$2M
TornadoLow54.5
$1M
Cold waveLow43.6
$695K
EarthquakeVery Low54.6
$324K
Strong windLow26.5
$234K
HailLow47.6
$221K
LightningLow44.4
$178K
Heat waveVery Low34.6
$161K
Ice stormLow54.9
$98K
Winter weatherLow35.3
$35K
AvalancheLow72.5
$7K
LandslideLow71.9
$7K
WildfireVery Low18.9
$6K
Coastal floodingVery Low19.0
$163

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 moderate 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 Greene County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Hurricane7
Snowstorm6
Flood2
Fire1

Most recent

Aug 22, 2021Hurricane HenriEmergency
Jul 12, 2017Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Oct 30, 2012Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 8, 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeEmergency
Aug 31, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Mar 4, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Dec 18, 2008Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 24, 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 25
Jul 1, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 19, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 27, 2003SnowEmergency
Feb 25, 2003SnowstormsEmergency
Sep 11, 2001Fires and ExplosionsMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 19, 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disaster
Jan 24, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 12, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergency
Nov 10, 1987Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 15, 1987FloodingMajor disaster

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 393 storm reports in Greene County since 1959, with 3 deaths and 17 injuries and about $32.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on July 10, 1989.

9tornadoes
53hail reports, largest 3 inches
192damaging thunderstorm winds
119floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 10, 1989F4–0 / 0
Jul 21, 2003F2Kiskatom7 / 0
Jul 21, 2003F1Coxsackie0 / 0
Apr 2, 1977F1–0 / 0
Jul 21, 2003F1Palenville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 10, 1989Tornado–$25M
Sep 16, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$3M
Jul 21, 2003TornadoKiskatom$1M
Jul 27, 2008Thunderstorm WindSouth Cairo$400K
Jun 20, 2001HailClimax$300K
Jun 20, 2001HailCoxsackie$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 1863, 3 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Greene County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1938, with top winds near 100 mph about 64 miles away.

3hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
6tropical storms
2020most recent: Isaias

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 21, 1938UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph64 mi
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph63 mi
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph63 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 60 mph28 mi
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 60 mph28 mi
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Sep 21, 1938UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph64 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph63 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 Greene County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (292 policies)
22.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$19.1 millionpaid on 587 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $12.7 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 Greene County

$271,600median home value (New York $423,800, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (New York 1959, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.8%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; 29,080 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
Albany CountyModerate19
Ulster CountyModerate33
Rensselaer CountyModerate24
Columbia CountyLow23
Delaware CountyModerate35
Schoharie CountyVery Low25

Common questions about Greene County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Greene County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Greene County, about $19.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Greene County had?

Greene County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1987, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Henri in August 2021.

Is Greene County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 35th 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 Greene County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Greene 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 Greene County had?

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Greene County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on July 10, 1989. The weather service has also logged 53 hail reports and 119 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Greene County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Greene County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1938, with winds near 100 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.