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Hamilton County, New York

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

Very Low overall risk
62nd of 62highest risk in New York
$6Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Hamilton County, New York has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 85% of US counties. It ranks 62nd of 62 counties in New York. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $5.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,091 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2024 (severe storm, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (57 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $719,000 on 35 claims here.

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

Top risks in Hamilton County

$4.8 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.

Cold wave

Very Low
$263,739 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Earthquake

Very Low
$226,922 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 415 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow41.8
$5M
Cold waveVery Low23.3
$264K
EarthquakeVery Low47.7
$227K
TornadoVery Low11.2
$73K
HurricaneVery Low46.9
$51K
LightningVery Low14.6
$46K
Strong windVery Low6.6
$41K
Winter weatherVery Low23.9
$20K
LandslideLow75.7
$9K
Ice stormVery Low13.9
$8K
HailVery Low2.9
$5K
Heat waveVery Low3.5
$3K
AvalancheVery Low62.0
$2K
WildfireVery Low3.1
$1K

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm5
Hurricane3
Snowstorm2
Flood2
Fire1
Earthquake1

Most recent

Aug 29, 2024Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 19, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2017Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Aug 31, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Jun 10, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 14
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 16, 2002EarthquakeMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2001Fires and ExplosionsMajor disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergency

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

Storm history since 1973

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 190 storm reports in Hamilton County since 1973, with 2 deaths and 5 injuries and about $81.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on August 28, 1973.

7tornadoes
25hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
125damaging thunderstorm winds
33floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 28, 1973F2–0 / 0
Sep 3, 1993F1To 10 Ne0 / 0
Jul 16, 2024EF1Piseco Arpt0 / 0
Jul 16, 2024EF1Whitehouse0 / 0
Jul 16, 2024EF1Griffin0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 15, 1995Thunderstorm WindCountywide$75M
Jul 11, 2023FloodSabattis$3M
Nov 1, 2019FloodBenson$1M
Sep 3, 1993TornadoTo 10 Ne$500K
Jul 15, 1995Thunderstorm WindLong Lake$500K
Jul 21, 1979Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 30, 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 Hamilton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (57 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$719,015paid on 35 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $276,031 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 Hamilton County

$260,200median home value (New York $423,800, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (New York 1959, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12%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; 7,911 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
St. Lawrence CountyLow15
Warren CountyLow15
Herkimer CountyLow21
Fulton CountyLow14
Franklin CountyLow16
Essex CountyLow21

Common questions about Hamilton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hamilton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hamilton County, about $4.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $263,739.

How many federal disasters has Hamilton County had?

Hamilton County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2024.

Is Hamilton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 62nd 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 Hamilton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Hamilton County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on August 28, 1973. The weather service has also logged 25 hail reports and 33 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.